✊🏿 Juneteenth: Honoring Freedom, Reflecting on History

Our Juneteenth Community Showcase flier

Every year on June 19th, people across the United States recognize Juneteenth, a powerful and historic day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. It's a time to celebrate Black freedom and culture, to reflect on the long struggle for equality, and to honor the resilience of generations who fought for justice.

But what exactly is Juneteenth? And why is it such a significant day in American history?

The History of Juneteenth

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared that all enslaved people in Confederate states were legally free. But due to the ongoing Civil War and the slow spread of information, many enslaved people remained in bondage long after that declaration.

It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with federal troops to announce that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free. Texas was one of the last holdouts of institutional slavery, and this announcement marked a true turning point.

That day became known as Juneteenth, a blend of the words June and nineteenth, and it became a symbol of delayed but ultimate liberation.

How Juneteenth Is Celebrated

Juneteenth has been celebrated by Black communities for over 150 years, often with parades, music, food, and public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Families gather for cookouts, festivals are held in parks, and speakers, poets, and performers bring the history and culture of the day to life.

Common themes include:

• Freedom and resilience

• Education and reflection

• Black excellence and creativity

• Community unity

Traditional foods like red velvet cake, barbecued meats, watermelon, and hibiscus punch (representing resilience and bloodshed in the fight for freedom) are often part of the celebration.

Becoming a National Holiday

While Juneteenth has long been recognized in Black communities, it wasn’t until June 17, 2021, that it became an official federal holiday in the United States. This came after decades of advocacy and growing public awareness following the nationwide protests for racial justice in 2020.

Recognizing Juneteenth nationally is both a celebration and a call to continue working toward racial equity and justice.

Why Juneteenth Matters Today

Juneteenth is more than a historical milestone—it's a reminder that freedom was not granted equally or immediately, and that the fight for justice is ongoing.

It encourages:

• Education about Black history, which is American history.

• Recognition of systemic injustices, both past and present.

• Appreciation of Black culture and contributions to society.

• Active participation in building a more equitable future.

Juneteenth is a day of celebration, remembrance, and recommitment. It invites us all to look back honestly and move forward intentionally.

As the poet Maya Angelou once said: “History, despite its wrenching pain, cannot be unlived, but if faced with courage, need not be lived again.”

Let Juneteenth remind us of what was overcome—and what is still possible.