Juneteenth: Honoring History and Celebrating Community in Milwaukee and Beyond
What is Juneteenth, and why is it celebrated so profoundly within the African American community?
Juneteenth serves as a remarkable day for African Americans, as it represents the end of slavery. It is also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."1?This should have effectively freed all enslaved African Americans, but places that were still under Confederate control, such as Texas, maintained their enslaved.
Two years later, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived at Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that enslaved African Americans were free by executive decree. There were over 250,000 African Americans living there at the time who on that day, became free.2?Today, June 19th is the day that African Americans across the United States celebrate as Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day.
In 1971, the city of Milwaukee began celebrating Juneteenth, and according to the City of Milwaukee’s records, it is the oldest known and longest-running annual Juneteenth celebration in the United States. Milwaukee’s celebration is one of the largest and oldest in the country. It is celebrated with a parade, food, live music, and speakers.3
Our SIM members are encouraged to participate in this joyful celebration that promotes diversity, equity, inclusion, and neurodiversity. Seek out activities you can do through nonprofit organizations in your city. Check out your government web pages on events planned in your city for this special day. Have conversations with SIM members, friends, coworkers, and family members about Juneteenth and its meaning to them. Above all, enjoy!
SIM Wisconsin Member Sharon F. Skinner, Ph.D. is the author of this piece.
Sources:
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1) What Is Juneteenth?
2)?The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
3) Milwaukee's World-Renowned Juneteenth Day Celebration
Group Vice President - Information Technology at Broan-NuTone LLC
5 个月Sharon, thank you for recognizing this important holiday on behalf of SIM Wisconsin.