(Photo Credits: Screengrab from the US National Archives’ Official Twitter Account)
Today marks the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth, guys, and New York City has just declared it as an official holiday. In addition, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an Executive Order recognizing Juneteenth as a paid holiday for NY state workers.
But what does Juneteenth means?
Juneteenth—a portmanteau of June and nineteenth—is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day. Observed every year on June 19, Juneteenth is an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Specifically, Juneteenth commemorates the arrival of Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army together with 2000 others from federal troops in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. Major General Granger came to Texas to “read General Order No. 3 announcing the end of the Civil War and that all enslaved were now free, as well as to maintain a presence in Texas for the purpose of enforcement of emancipation among slave-owners throughout the state.”
The original, handwritten General Order No. 3, which informed the people of Texas that all enslaved people were now free, will be digitized and added to the National Archives Catalog. #Juneteenth https://t.co/okiid3uKBv pic.twitter.com/uqA00hC2DA
— US National Archives (@USNatArchives) June 19, 2020
This only happened over two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. And two months after the American Civil War—which ran from 12 April 1861 to 9 April 1865—had ended.
President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebel states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” This means however, that for over two years since the Emancipation Proclamation, the slavery continued on like nothing happened.
And this is why we celebrate Juneteenth, and why Major General Granger’s announcement in Texas was important, as it underscores a pivotal moment in history.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated in 47 states in the US either as a holiday or observance, save for the following: North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.
Meanwhile, senators had proposed a bill on Friday to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Read more here.
Thousands gathered across Atlanta on Friday to celebrate Juneteenth, including hundreds in Centennial Park alone. The city is still reeling from the police-involved death of 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks one week ago today. pic.twitter.com/tLAeQ5hrQb
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) June 19, 2020
On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, TX, the last enslaved African Americans were finally given notice of their freedom. 155 years later, we're still on the long road to equality, equity, and fairness for all.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 19, 2020
We can't rest until the promise of this nation is fulfilled. #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/ZHOH8Hz57H
We have a moral duty to oppose injustice wherever it appears. In honor of #Juneteenth, the portraits of four previous Speakers who served in the Confederacy were removed from display in the U.S. Capitol. There is no room in these halls for honoring men who embody racism & hatred. pic.twitter.com/aTPa89mOAe
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) June 19, 2020
How does your state observe Juneteenth, guys? How do you and your family celebrate it? Share with us your thoughts and stories in the comments section below.
Happy Juneteenth, y’all!
after 155 years, countless deaths, umpteen injustices, the US recognizes freedom. This performance deserves an oscar, tony, and an emmy.
It’s also important to note that slaveholders in Texas took an additional year to release enslaved Black Americans by which time the Thirteenth amendment had been ratified.
In March 1878, the Alta Vista plantation,one of the last Texas plantations to relase Blacks from slavery became the HBCU, Prarie View A&M.
Yes, it was a glorious day for slaves in Texas! And, a final end of the war started by Democrats and won by Republicans. It’s interesting to note that the Republican party didn’t even exist until just a few years before the war started. One of their primary purposes for their existence was to prevent slavery in the new territories and to eliminate it in the already existing states. Ever since then the Democratic party has sought to keep African Americans in a state of de facto slavery. The KKK, Jim Crow laws, poll taxes, and many other schemes enacted… Read more »
Please name the Republican run states/municipalities where Blacks are seeing a vast difference in policies from those democratic run cities you condemn. Are they in red state Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Louisiana, or Oklahoma? The answer will be no where because systematic racism is an American affliction, not a democratic or a republican one. So stop with the Bullshit. Black Americans are consistently stuck voting for the lesser of the two evils and for the last 50+ years that has not been Republicans who by the way, enjoyed the benefit of the black vote for 100 yrs.
Yep, a complete reversal, now the republicans are the primary party of racists, but there is enough racism for both sides, admittedly. We’re presently seeing the schemes of republicans to “keep us down.”
Hi, Lamar! I think you’re confused again/still. The slavery in modern times is the slavery of dependence. It destroys self motivation to improve ones lot in life. The Democrats practice this through the “great society” programs of LBJ which have created a vast swath of single parent families leading to the destruction of morality and thus crime runs rampant in these communities. And, it’s not only the black communities that experience this. Both parties are in the pocket of big money capitalists who lobby for laws protecting their money interestes which, by the way, feed money into the pockets of… Read more »
“Confused” In the bubble much? Only someone who is willfully, blissfully ignorant would espouse such nonsense. We would do much better with a more, “morally responsible” republican party first of all, which btw, is why “you don’t think race is the problem.” We’re still complaining about nothing in another wards? Then so is the rest of the world in terms of color, how do you explain that, racism at every level, I’m educated as to the many policies of our country that undermine people of color whereas you are not, or in denial of.
When I was in elementary school, I was introduced to Emancipation Day. I went to a all-black segregated school that focused on all of United States history. Juneteenth, which was yesterday was the most positive I felt about change in regard to racial equality in all my life. I never felt prouder watching whites and blacks locked arms in solidarity marching during peaceful protests after George Floyd was murdered. I’ve never in my lifetime seen as much compassion as I’m seeing now for people of color. My white friends have been great!!! The video tape of Mr. Floyd being murdered… Read more »
Yes, finally we are seeing a lot more acceptance of the black race, however there is still a lot of work to be done. Most older whites, still today have a lot of bias and distrust of the black race, however I guess I’m just one of those older (white) guys who never had any problems accepting people of different color or nationality. When I went to grade school my classmates were most all white, then when I went I started high school, the black to white ratio was like 50/50. Along came the racial riots back in the late… Read more »
How about gayteenth when white supremacy racism sexism gender discrimination age and body type discrimination is eliminated in the GAY communities.
Apparently everyone wants to die of covid… Or does it only seem bad if its a cause Cumo is against? Maybe he can address how he sent covid positive patients back to nursing homes which significantly increased the rate of infection and deaths instead of doing PR.
You know here in South Florida, there was a really good down-pour early evening, which made a really beautiful rainbow! Thanks you too!
Being white, I had never paid much attention to the meaning of Juneteenth. However the meaning behind it is powerful. It was, and still is terrible that such discrimination still goes on today. Slavery, separate banks, lack of employment, separate housing, black and white businesses, black and white drinking fountains, poor run down neighborhoods, “back of the bus”, the lack of trust by white people, and and the list goes on and on. All perpetrated by “White America”. No wonder there is so much protesting. I praise those wonderful “blacks” who have fought and marched so hard for their freedom,… Read more »
Happy Juneteenth America!
As the US begins to take ownership for its treatment of Blacks over a number of centuries, a highly interesting (and most informative) story is the history of slavery in Canada. For over 150 years, not only were Blacks enslaved, but an astonishing number of Native Americans as well. Slavery was abolished in the British Empire (Canada therefore included) in 1834, not too many years before President Lincoln abolished it in the US. Canada, like the US, does not have yet have a national date where it marks its taking responsibility for the wrongs of slavery. Some Provinces do, however.… Read more »
Trump made that unknown day famous. Fuck that full of shit day
Thanks for continuing to educate people.
Let’s not forget all those mulatto slave owners, or the tribal chiefs that captured and sold them in the first place. Or the middle men that owned the ships as well as ran the caravans. As a Native American, I wish the whole lot would go back to where they came from. But none of the invaders bothers to ask us. So save the hypocrisy of the conquers and their dark allies. Invaders all
Nice to hear from someone who is Indigenous. Lets not forget about those documented Cherokees, that were slave owners; as many as 100 were documented as being “very successful/prosperous” slave owners. Some were more successful than some white slave owners; so much so that the white slave owners became envious and we know what happened after that. As my mother’s grandfather is/was a Cherokee man; my grandmother’s side of the family, I sure there was no marriage to speak of, just sayin’. As for “dark allies,” yeah, there were both Indigenous and “dark allies” (Buffalo Soldiers) of the “white invaders,”… Read more »