History

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended resulting in the freedom of all enslaved people. This was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became official January 1, 1863. Speculation as to the reasons for the delay range from a theory that a messenger was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom, to the news being deliberately withheld by enslavers to maintain the labor force on plantations, or that Federal troops actually waited for slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest.

Despite the importance of recognizing emancipation, there was often little interest and sometimes outward resistance from those outside of the African American community to recognize the meaning of this day in Texas and elsewhere. However, during the Civil Rights movement of the 50s and 60s, as youth were pulled into the struggle for racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors. In 1968, Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through the Poor Peoples March to Washington, D.C. Many attendees initiated Juneteenth celebrations in their hometowns afterwards. This helped to broaden the reach of recognizing the importance of Juneteenth.

On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas through the efforts of Al Edwards, African American state legislator. This marked the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. Beginning in 2007, other states began to follow suit and as of 2021, forty-six states officially recognize the Emancipation Proclamation through honoring Juneteenth. In June 2021, President Biden established June 19th as a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery by marking the day enslaved people in Texas learned they were free.

Respect and appreciation for all of our differences grow out of exposure and working together. Getting involved and supporting Juneteenth celebrations creates new bonds of friendship and understanding among us. This indeed brightens our future – and that is the Spirit of Juneteenth.                                                                      www.juneteenth.com/history