Hey everyone! Have you ever heard of Juneteenth? It’s a really important day in American history, often called “Freedom Day” or “America’s Second Independence Day.” But what exactly is it, and why do we celebrate it? Let’s find out!
To understand Juneteenth, we need to go back to 1863. That’s when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people in the Confederate states were legally free. Sounds great, right? But here’s the catch: the Civil War was still raging, and this freedom couldn’t be enforced everywhere immediately. Especially in the westernmost Confederate state, Texas, many enslaved people remained in bondage.
Fast forward two and a half years to June 19, 1865. The Civil War had ended, and Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, finally arrived in Galveston, Texas. They brought with them General Order Number 3, a powerful declaration for the more than 250,000 enslaved people there.
General Order Number 3 explicitly stated, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” It also declared “an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.” Imagine that moment! After years of unimaginable hardship, true freedom finally arrived.
The very next year, freed people in Texas began celebrating “Juneteenth.” Early celebrations involved prayer meetings, spiritual songs, and wearing brand new clothes to symbolize their new beginning. Over time, it grew into lively festivals with food—especially red dishes like red velvet cake and hibiscus tea, symbolizing resilience—music, and dancing. As Black Texans moved across the country, they carried these traditions with them, spreading the celebration of Juneteenth nationwide.
For generations, Juneteenth was primarily celebrated within Black communities. But thanks to dedicated activists like Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” the holiday gained national recognition. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth a federal holiday—the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
So, what is Juneteenth today? It’s a day to remember the profound journey to freedom, to celebrate African American resilience and culture, and to reflect on the ongoing work for true equality and justice for everyone. It reminds us that freedom delayed is not freedom denied, and that progress is always possible.