Two Years Later, But Never Too Late
Juneteenth (also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865 Major General Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers landed at Galveston Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now FREE! This was over TWO years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that the last enslaved people were set free!
The Juneteenth Flag colors are red, white, and blue, like the American flag, this symbolizes that the enslaved people and their descendants all were and are Americans. The star in the middle is to represent the lone star state of Texas where slavery finally completely ended and the bursting star around it is meant to represent a “new star” or a new beginning throughout the land.
Juneteenth was not recognized as a national holiday until Texas made it an official state holiday on January 1, 1980 and soon other states followed. Currently there are three states that do not recognize Juneteenth as a holiday North Dakota, South Dakota, and Hawaii. In many states, some large and small businesses give a paid day off for Juneteenth.
There are many ways Juneteenth is celebrated...
Neighborhood events, prayer service, big celebration
Listen to black artists, elders recount the events of the past
Host your own party, barbecuing, play softball or baseball
Support black business, only buy black on this day
Visit exhibits or museums, and activities that are all dedicated to black culture
Watch black TV shows
Written by
Evelyn Taylor
Case Manager at Mutual Ground