Juneteenth is a newer federal holiday but it actually began in 1865. The public became more aware of it during the 2020 protests over the deaths of Black Americans at the hands of police officers. Even before the death of George Floyd, activists such as Opal Lee and the Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr., MD, worked hard to raise awareness about this holiday.
This important day celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States. It always takes place on June 19 because that is the actual day Union soldiers rode into Galveston Bay, Texas, to free the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state. Here are ten facts you need to know about Juneteenth.
What is Juneteenth in a nutshell?
On June 19, 1865, 2,000 Union troops rode into Galveston Bay, Texas. They were on a mission to free the slaves in areas once controlled by Confederate forces. Union General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3, which freed the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas. Since that happy day, Black Americans have celebrated the end of slavery and even consider it a second independence day.
What does the Emancipation Proclamation have to do with it?
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. This freed all slaves in the seceded states, effective immediately. The issue was that many areas were still under Confederate control so it would take years for the word to spread. There was no internet or cellphones back then.
More from LittleThings: I'm White, Here's How I Talk To My Own Child About Black History
What about the 13th Amendment?
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order that freed slaves only in states that seceded from the Union. It did not free slaves in the border states or those already under Union control. Slaves in Kentucky and Delaware were not free until the passing of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. Congress passed it on January 31, 1865, and it was ratified on December 6, 1865.
Who is Opal Lee?
Opal Lee is an educator and activist known as "the grandmother of Juneteenth." This was personal to Lee because her great-grandma was born into slavery. Lee worked hard to make sure this holiday was recognized at the federal level. She even walked from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, DC, when she was 89 years old, to raise awareness. It paid off. In 2021, she was there when President Joe Biden signed the bill into law making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
How did Juneteenth get its name?
Juneteenth is a mashup of two words. It combines June and nineteenth. This was the actual day the slaves in Texas were freed.
Who was the Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr., MD?
The Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr., MD, created the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. For 20 years, he traveled to Washington, DC, to lobby lawmakers to recognize the holiday on both the federal and state levels. His actions laid the groundwork for the 2021 victory. Sadly, he died in 2018 and did not live to see the day.
When did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?
On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed S.475 Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. This made Juneteenth the 11th federal holiday. The last federal holiday to get legal observance before this was Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Do we get the day off?
This depends on where you live. Some states, including Texas, have also declared Juneteenth a state holiday. This means government employees have the day off and banks and post offices are closed. Other states consider it a day of observance and business continues as usual.
How do people celebrate Juneteenth?
Historically, people have celebrated the day with prayer meetings, wearing their Sunday best, and singing spirituals. Many former slaves even took annual pilgrimages to Galveston. These days the day is marked with parades, community events, and family barbecues.
Did slavery end on June 19, 1865?
Sadly, no. Although Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery, the 13th Amendment and the 1866 Reconstruction Treaties were also needed to end slavery. The 13th Amendment made slavery illegal in the United States. Thousands of slaves were also held by Native American tribes, which the Reconstruction Treaties freed, and then banned the awful practice.
