Wed, June 19, 2024
Interesting Facts
Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th each year, marks a significant moment in American history, commemorating the day in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free.
This was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official on January 1, 1863, but due to the minimal presence of Union troops in Texas, enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent.
Juneteenth, a blend of “June” and “nineteenth,” has grown from a day of celebration and remembrance within the African American community to a recognized state holiday in Texas in 1980, and finally to a federal holiday in the United States in 2021.
The day is often celebrated with community gatherings, educational events, and cultural festivals, serving as a reflection on the struggle for racial equality and a celebration of the progress made towards achieving it.