Today is considered the “longest running African-American holiday” — it’s been called “America’s second Independence Day.” June 19th or “Juneteenth” is an important day in African American history. Juneteenth, often called “Freedom Day,” is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
On June 19th, 1865 Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were free. If you’re paying attention, you’ll note that 1865 was 2½ years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, that became official on January 1, 1863. Obviously, the Emancipation Proclamation had very little impact on Texas. One reason is that there was a minimal number of Union troops available to enforce the new executive order in Texas — and — there were large crops that needed labor to harvest them. From the time Gen. Lee surrendered, in April 1865, until Gen. Granger’s regiment arrived with forces strong enough to overcome the resistance of white slave owners, 2½ years had passed….. it took 2½ years after the Emancipation Proclamation for all slaves to finally be free.
On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of the bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. Edwards has since sought to spread the observance of Juneteenth across the nation.
On June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the bill that makes Juneteenth a legal public holiday. On June 17, 2021, President Biden signed into law Senate Bill 475 (S. 475) making “Juneteenth” a federal holiday.
There is a Juneteenth Flag of Freedom — it’s half red and half blue with a star in the middle. Each year a Juneteenth Flag raising ceremony in held in Galveston.
Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the freedom of the slaves in the United States. Some people call it Emancipation Day or Freedom Day. It was a cause of celebration and jubilation in 1865 — should still be today.
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