What is Juneteenth and why we should all want to celebrate this day?

What Is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth National Independence Day; also known as, Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day and Freedom Day; is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the freeing of enslaved African Americans.

 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. This was two months after the South’s official surrender in the Civil War and two and a half years after the proclamation was enacted. You see, 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 freed. Formerly enslaved people in Galveston celebrated after that announcement. The following year, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what became the annual celebration of "Jubilee Day" on June 19.

 Juneteenth has been celebrated since that day in 1866, mostly by Black Americans. African American History is American History and, therefore, this day is worthy of recognition by every American citizen.

This little-known holiday has gained awareness and momentum in the last few years. This is most likely due to citizens seeking tolerance and improved relations as the heated climate in the US was in need of cooling temperatures. In fact, exactly one year ago today (6/17), Juneteenth was made a federal holiday, marking the day as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States.

Juneteenth is a day for recognizing our country as an exceptional nation—a nation that has stated from its inception that; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”

By having more tolerant factual conversations about this critical part of our history, we can transform the topic from a view of division to a desirable place of unity. We can use Juneteenth as a way to acknowledge our tragedies, seek acceptance, gain tolerance, and move toward a future as a nation more educated and, hopefully, more united.

Why Should Every American Want to Celebrate the holiday?

We should ALL celebrate Juneteenth because we ALL celebrate America. On July 4, 1776 African Americans were nearly 100 years from freedom and far from independence and yet is celebrated by all Americans. Alexis de Tocqueville once said in “Democracy in America”: “The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults.”

Let us look at Juneteenth just as we look at Independence Day - An Emancipation and Freedom Day for ALL Americans.

This day is a vivid reminder that can be used to recognize the starting point of African Americans, the trials left behind, the challenges that lay ahead, the heights that are achieved and the realization that although it continues to be a work in progress, so much progress has already been made!

We must collectively always strive together toward the vision of a More Perfect Union.

IN CLOSING

Juneteenth—June 19, 1865—was the day Union soldiers enforced President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and freed all remaining slaves in Texas.

We can use Juneteenth to acknowledge our past, help heal current divisions, and move toward a future as a nation more united.

Let us look at Juneteenth just as we look at Independence Day—as a great turning point for freedom in our nation’s history.

Additional Resources and Opportunities To Learn More.

You can visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History exhibitions page to virtually explore the museum’s collections on the African American experience and as well the award winning National Museum of African American History web page for Juneteenth https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth

(In Person and Virtual) Juneteenth Soundstage: Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings Monday, June 20; 3 p.m. ET Oprah Winfrey Theater + UStream Two-time Grammy-nominated trumpeter Alphonso Horne and the Gotham Kings weave together the sounds of New Orleans to demonstrate the history of the trumpet and the story of jazz for an immersive jazz experience for all ages. The band has played at esteemed venues, including the Newport, Aspen and Caramoor jazz festivals;, Louis Armstrong House Museum; Jazz at Lincoln Center and many more. This program is free, but registration is required.

The Robert F. Smith Explore Your Family History Center is excited to present Texas Freedom Colonies with Dr. Andrea Roberts on Saturday, June 11, 2022. Dr. Roberts will discuss her work researching, documenting, preserving, and mapping Freedom Colonies, or the places where African Americans started intentional communities between the years of 1865 and 1935.

Nate