Embracing Juneteenth's Legacy in African American Culture
What does true freedom mean to a community that fought for it for centuries? Juneteenth, a federal holiday, celebrates the freedom granted to the last enslaved African Americans in Texas in 1865. Learning more about Juneteenth fosters cultural understanding builds your historical literacy, and promotes principles of freedom and equality. Let's explore together why Juneteenth became a federal holiday, its significance, and how it is celebrated.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a federal holiday that celebrates the day when the last enslaved people in the United States regained their freedom. Celebrated as a national holiday, Juneteenth brings communities together through events, music, and traditional food. On a deeper level, the holiday is an excellent opportunity for reflection on the abolition of slavery.
The holiday is connected with Texas since that's where the last enslaved African Americans were located. They were among the last to receive the announcement that the Civil War and slavery had come to an end.
Juneteenth is a symbol of resilience and Emancipation. The holiday also serves as a reminder to appreciate the freedom it represents. Nowadays, it is an occasion to promote civil rights and justice and spark dialogues on future steps.
Where did Juneteenth Get Its Name?
Juneteenth is the result of blending two separate words: "June" and "nineteenth." The date marks the announcement that slaves were free, made on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. The term was not brought by officials, though. It was the local African American community that coined the word. Juneteenth stands for resilience and freedom.
Other terms related to Juneteenth are as follows:
- Freedom Day,
- Emancipation Day,
- Juneteenth National Independence Day,
- Black Independence Day,
- Jubilee Day,
- Liberation Day.
As the longest-running African-American holiday, Juneteenth is often referred to as "America's Second Independence Day."
A Brief History of Juneteenth
The actual story of Juneteenth started two years earlier. A significant difference to keep in mind is between the Union and the Confederate States. The northern US states, or the Union, sought to end slavery. The Confederate States were the southern states, willing to keep slavery and create their own separate nation.
On January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The act declared all enslaved people in the Confederate states were free from then on. However, the news didn't reach remote areas, such as Texas. That means black people were still enslaved in the region. Moreover, many slaveholders moved to Texas to maintain ownership of slaves. On top of that, enslaved people did not know about the Emancipation, as the information was deliberately hidden from them.
The Southern states learned about the Emancipation of slaves through General Order Number 3. On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger, supported by military troops, arrived in Galveston, Texas. He announced publicly that enslaved people in Texas were free from that point forward. That was more than two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. The news spread and the African American community began celebrating every year, coining the term Juneteenth.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act at the White House. That's how Juneteenth obtained the status of a federal holiday. The holiday has received the recognition it deserves, standing as a symbol of freedom and social justice in the United States.
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How Is Juneteenth Celebrated?
Juneteenth is traditionally celebrated with family gatherings, picnics, barbecues, and storytelling. Educational and social events honor Black history, praise the resilience of the African-American community, and celebrate freedom. The color red is a symbol of the holiday, representative of the bloodshed of the enslaved people, their suffering, and their sacrifice. That's why red-colored dishes and drinks are customary, including roast meat, red velvet cake, watermelon, and strawberry soda. The color red is also featured on the flag created in 1997, along with white and blue. A star is represented in the middle of the flag, symbolizing Texas. The circle of stars around it represents the spread of freedom.
In its early days, Juneteenth was celebrated with formerly enslaved people dressing in new clothes. Attending a church service was customary. Baseball, rodeos, and fishing were also linked to the first celebrations of Juneteenth. Over time, the tradition evolved into festive gatherings featuring food and music. In some areas, it's traditional to read the Emancipation Proclamation and sing songs such as "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." Lectures and exhibitions of the African-American culture are popular, along with festivals and marathons.
Juneteenth is an excellent opportunity for families to teach the younger generation about Black history and the struggles of enslaved African Americans. In a broader context, the holiday highlights important issues of equality, racial justice, and human rights.
Besides the United States, Juneteenth is also celebrated by the Black communities in Mexico under the name "Día de los Negros". US military bases located in Europe and Asia also celebrate Juneteenth. Of course, the holiday is most popular in the United States.
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