![]() If people and the planet are not both thriving, our work is not done. Once the slave owners had time to reap their desired amount of capital from the cotton harvests, federal troops were then given the green light to finally enforce the freeing of those slaves. For two years and 169 days, the enslaved people of Texas were barred from learning about and experiencing their freedom. ![]() The reason the news took so long to get to Texas was because the proclamation was deliberately withheld by enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. It was not until June 19, 1865, that soldiers marched into the town of Galveston, Texas to give that life-changing news: The Civil War had ended and all enslaved people were finally free from the sinister system of chattel slavery. You’ll find that many different places in America have their own Jubilee Day celebrations, depending on when enslaved people got their freedom. Both my mom and nana have told me stories of celebrating on August 8 and how that was the one day out of the year our town’s local park waived the “Whites Only” rule. This day would become known as “Jubilee Day,” which has roots in the biblical meaning of ‘jubilee,’ referring to every 50th year when people were freed from their debts, released from their slavers, property was returned, and the year was dedicated to rest. My own ancestors on my mother’s side were enslaved in Tennessee and would not see freedom until August 8, 1863. This proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, but the actual implementation and enforcement of this proclamation was not swift. The proclamation declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” What is Juneteenth?Īfter the Civil War, a presidential proclamation and executive order, the Emancipation Proclamation, was issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln. So if you fall into the camp of “What is Juneteenth?”, let’s explore how this monumental date in history impacted our nation and why we are all encouraged to observe and celebrate America’s other National Independence Day. With no context, direction, or guidance, this day can become ‘just another day.’ For Americans who have never been exposed to or participated in observing the recently instituted federal holiday, there can be confusion on how to celebrate or even why they should care. Or it may even be the first time someone has heard of the word “Juneteenth”. For many people in the U.S., this is the first time they will experience a day off to observe. From supporting Black-owned businesses to attending a march or protest, there's an option in here for you.In June 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation that made June 19, Juneteenth, a federal holiday. Trust me, there are so many ways you can honor Black culture, heritage, history and, most importantly, freedom. So there's no year like this year to find your own way to celebrate! Scan the list below to see what's going on around the country, both IRL and virtually. On Thursday, President Biden officially made Juneteenth a federal holiday, per NBC. That last part is important because, when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, there were minimal Union troops in Texas and other parts of the Confederacy to actually enforce the law, according to. ![]() That's when General Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas with Union soldiers and announced that the Civil War had ended-two months earlier on April 9, 1865-and that all enslaved people were free and that this freedom would be enforced, per NBC. Despite what you may have learned about the Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863) and the ratification of the 13th Amendment (December 6, 1865), the truth is that there were still holdouts across the Confederacy up until June 19, 1865. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is the official date that the last enslaved people became emancipated in America. Black lives, history, and contributions deserve to be recognized-and June 19 is the perfect day to do it. Juneteenth is almost here, and this year, there are so many ways to pay tribute to the holiday while honoring Black Americans.
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