This year Juneteenth gets the most deserving recognition needed, but for those who need some help understanding why, here a quick rundown...
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth honors the memory of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas and read President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation to the public. President Lincoln had signed the document on January 1, 1863, but it took another two and a half years for news of freedom to reach the nearly quarter of a million slaves in Texas.
When was Juneteenth founded?
Texas was the most remote of the slave states, and the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, was not enforced there until after the Civil War had ended. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger led thousands of federal troops to Galveston, Texas to announce that the Civil War had ended, and slaves had been free.
Formerly enslaved people in Galveston celebrated after the announcement. The following year, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of "Jubilee Day" on June 19.
Why is Juneteenth important?
Juneteenth also know as “Freedom Day,” is a day to focus on the emancipation of slaves in the United States, serving as a reminder it took a Civil War to legally end slavery in this country.
It also is a reminder of Black economical empowerment. The day was first celebrated in Austin in 1867 under the guidance of the Freedmen's Bureau, and it had been listed on a "calendar of public events" by 1872. That year black leaders in Texas raised $1,000 for the purchase of 10 acres of land to celebrate Juneteenth, today known as Houston's Emancipation Park.
Who should celebrate Juneteenth?
Everyone.
How to celebrate Juneteenth?
As you go about your day, share your knowledge to help bring awareness to those who don’t know about Juneteenth. Take time to research and educate yourself on the history & events of this country, which have laid the foundation for the way we interact today.
History has shown although Black People have built this country, we are still fighting for justice & equity. As a reminder seek out Black Owned Businesses, Black Women Businesses to help advance economical empowerment.