Juneteenth celebration takes place every year on June 19. The Juneteenth history reveals the day is also referred to as Freedom Day and Emancipation Day. It celebrates the day of freedom for slaves in Texas in 1865. Their freedom came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation which went into effect on January 1, 1863. But for Texas slaves it was not until June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers entered Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the Civil War, and read out loud the Emancipation Proclamation that had already, technically, freed the state’s 250,000 or so slaves. One can hardly imagine the initial shock and excitement of the slaves to know they had been freed.
Every year since, including Juneteeen 2009, there has been a celebration.
Read more about it: Juneteenth History
It’s tragic that it took so long for freedom to come to Texas slaves. But although late, liberation did come. Juneteenth Celebration has continued to this day. In fact, it became an official state holiday in Texas in 1980. It is celebrated to some extent in numerous U.S. states. To find out more about Juneteenth history, see:
- Juneteenth Worldwide Celebration – Juneteenth History
- National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
- NPR Juneteenth Celebration
Image: Library of Congress – The Strobridge Lith. Co., Cincinnati. Abraham Lincoln and his Emancipation Proclamation. c.1888
Watch Juneteenth Celebration video and Juneteenth History video below.
YouTube Video Link
YouTube Link
Juneteenth History: Juneteenth Celebration (Video) 2009
