Juneteenth, also widely known as Emancipation Day, is the American celebration to commemorate June the 19th, 1865, when African American slaves learnt they were officially free in Galveston, Texas. Two years previously, Emancipation for Confederate states was issued by the President on the 1st of January, however enslaved people in the state were not aware of the news, largely as there was no large Union Army. The provisions of the proclamation could only be applied to areas controlled by confederate army forces, with Texas not surrendering until the date of Juneteenth. “Freedom had come in legal terms, but the story was not so clear on the ground… those who had heard were often forcibly prevented from acting as if any material change had taken place” – Annette Gordon-Reed.
The holiday has been celebrated since 1866 and traditions included gatherings, parades, rodeos, street fairs and community barbeques. It also included voter registration efforts due to earlier celebrations which involved aiding newly freed people with instructions on how to vote. The celebrations are often local, and readings include works of famous African American writers such as Maya Angelou, or public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. In 1872, in way of celebrating the holiday, leaders in Texas aimed to raise money to buy a plot of land to hold these festivities. Now, meals often eaten are red foods such as red bean and rice, red velvet cake, or strawberry shortcake – alongside cookout meals and tea cakes.
The importance of celebrating the Juneteenth, especially for African Americans, is to commemorate their ancestors’ freedom and acknowledge the vast significance that that day has for many people. It’s noted that the day is for rejoicing and reflection on the past events and is heavily growing in popularity. Texas is the first state which claimed Juneteenth as an official holiday and most other states followed suit. A movement this year has just recently passed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday with unanimous votes from the Senate – an incredible feat, which continues to highlight its importance. Hopefully, this proposal will head to the House of Representatives and then onto President Biden, to be signed into law as an official holiday across America. Learning and researching this holiday and its origins is a key way to take part, as is reflecting – something we can all do to celebrate the day.
The Texas State Library acknowledges the holiday to be celebrated and to treat “this day like the Fourth of July”, expressing the significance that this holiday should hold in America. This is especially noted due to the majority of Americans knowing little to nothing about the celebration (37% having some knowledge about it). The interest for the bill to be passed was rehashed due to the tragic and horrific deaths of many African Americans last year. After recent events, such as the tragic killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, have brought to light the extreme racial discrimination present in America, the bill was pushed even further to be passed. We can only hope that the holiday becomes official and will spread wider knowledge for the holiday, in order for the celebrations to grow further.
