Everything about Juneteenth totally explained
Juneteenth, also known as
Freedom Day or
Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday or holiday observance in 26 states of the
United States. Celebrated on
June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of
slavery in Texas. The holiday originated in
Galveston, Texas; for more than a century, the state of
Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations. However, one small community in Arkansas (
Wilmar) boasts that its celebration, called "June Dinner" has been consistently observed and celebrated, except for one year, since approximately 1870. Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. It is considered a "partial staffing holiday" meaning that state offices don't close but some employees will be using a floating holiday to take the day off. Twelve other states list it as an official holiday, including
Arkansas,
New York,
Massachusetts,
Connecticut, and
Alaska . In
California, Governor
Schwarzenegger proclaimed June 19th "Juneteenth" on
June 19, 2005.
However, some of these states, such as Connecticut, don't consider it a
legal holiday and don't close government offices in observance of the occasion. Its informal observance has spread to some other states, with a few celebrations even taking place in other countries.
As of February 2008, 26 states have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or state holiday observance; these include Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, Massachusetts, and North Carolina, as well as the District of Columbia.
History
Though the
Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on
September 22,
1862, with an effective date of
January 1,
1863, it had little immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under
Confederate control. Juneteenth commemorates
June 19,
1865, the day
Union General
Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on
Galveston Island to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. Legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”
The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they won't be allowed to collect at military posts and that they won't be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.
That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a
portmanteau of the words
June and
nineteenth.
Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year. Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities’ increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings—including
Houston’s Emancipation Park,
Mexia’s Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in
Austin. Juneteenth celebrations include a wide range of festivities, such as parades, street fairs, cookouts, or park parties and include such things as music and dancing or even contests of physical strength and intellect. Baseball and other popular American games may also be played.
In literature
Ralph Ellison's second novel
Juneteenth deals with this holiday and its traditions.
Juneteenth was published posthumously, from a manuscript which required heavy editing (and paring) after Ellison's death.
Carolyn Meyer's novel
Jubilee Journey is the story of one young biracial girl celebrating Juneteenth with her relatives in Texas, while also learning to be proud of her African American heritage.
Ann Rinaldi's historical novel
Come Juneteenth is the story of how Juneteenth came to be, and follows the life of the daughter of a young white plantation-owner's daughter in Texas during the Civil War whose family faces tragedy after their mulatto half-sister runs away when learning they lied to her about being free.
Traditions
Juneteenth is traditionally celebrated with a large feast served as an all day meal in a park or outdoor space. The traditional dishes of Juneteenth are served
pot luck and usually include portions of
barbecue, cakes, pies, and watermelon.
Big Red soda is the traditional beverage of Juneteenth.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Juneteenth'.
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