Juneteenth
Happy Juneteenth!
June 19th, shortened to Juneteenth, is an annual celebration in the United States of the emancipation of the people who were enslaved. The date commemorates the day when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger finally got the message to the state of Texas in 1865 proclaiming all slaves free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 (Gates Jr., 2013).
It’s an official holiday in the state of Texas and has been since 1980. It has been an important celebration in African American communities since its start and is currently enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Many groups are organizing celebrations for Juneteenth to “promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture” (juneteenth.com).
To learn more about this joyous holiday, please read up from the following resources:
- https://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm
- https://www.theroot.com/what-is-juneteenth-1790896900
- https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/juneteenth.html
- “Juneteenth” from Holiday Symbols and Customs, Clark College Libraries ebook
