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Juneteenth Also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day Observed by Residents of the
United States, especially
African Americans Type Ethnic, historical Significance Emancipation of last remaining slaves in the United States Date June 19 Observances Exploration and celebration of African American history and heritage
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas in 1865. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is recognized as a state holiday in 31 of the United States.[1][2]
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[edit] Observation
The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas; for more than a century, the state of Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations. Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. It is considered a "partial staffing holiday" meaning that state offices do not close but some employees will be using a floating holiday to take the day off.[3] Twelve other states list it as an official holiday, including Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Alaska and California, where Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed the day "Juneteenth" on June 19, 2005.[4][5] Connecticut, however, does not consider it a legal holiday or close government offices in observance of the occasion.[6] Its informal observance has spread to some other states, with a few celebrations even taking place in other countries.[7][5]
As of May 2009, 31 states[1] and the District of Columbia have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or state holiday observance; these include Alaska,[5] Arkansas, California,[5] Colorado, Connecticut,[5] Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,[2] Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,[8] Missouri, New Jersey,[5] New Mexico, New York,[5] North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas,[1] Vermont,[1] Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.[9]
[edit] History
Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves' day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Texas was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation, and though slavery was very prevalent in East Texas, it was not as common in the Western areas of Texas, particularly the Hill Country, where most German-Americans were opposed to the practice. Juneteenth commemorates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. On June 19, 1865, 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 will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.[10]
That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a portmanteau of the words June, eighteenth and nineteenth.
Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year.[10] 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.[10] 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.
[edit] In literature
Ralph Ellison's second novel Juneteenth deals with this holiday and its traditions. Juneteenth was published posthumously.
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 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.
[edit] Traditions
Traditions include an annunciated public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation as a reminder that the slaves have been proclaimed free. Many African American families use this opportunity to retrace their ancestry to the enslaved ancestors, who were held in bondage for centuries. Celebrants often sing traditional songs as well such as Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Lift Every Voice and Sing; and poetry from Black authors like Maya Angelou.[11]
