Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated in the US on June 19th, commemorating the end of slavery in the country. In 1865, a group of enslaved people in Texas, Galveston, learned of their freedom.
Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated in the US on June 19th, commemorating the end of slavery in the country. In 1865, a group of enslaved people in Texas, Galveston, learned of their freedom.
The Road to the End of Slavery
The events leading up to this historic day began with President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. This declaration, issued during the American Civil War, stated that all slaves in the Confederate states, including Texas, were free. However, Texas was far from the main battles, and plantation owners hid the news, continuing to force people to work. As a result, about 250,000 slaves in the state did not learn of their freedom until June 19, 1865. On that day, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston and announced the end of slavery. In December of the same year, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution officially abolished slavery across the country, making freedom permanent.
The Birth of Juneteenth
The following year, on June 19, 1866, former slaves gathered in Texas to celebrate the first anniversary of their freedom. They celebrated the day with picnics, dances, and prayers. These gatherings formed the foundation of Juneteenth.
The Growth of Juneteenth
Over the years, Juneteenth celebrations grew and spread. In 1980, Texas became the first state to officially recognize the holiday. In the following decades, more states followed.
The Journey to Becoming a National Holiday
Increasing recognition was encouraging, but it was not enough for Opal Lee. Lee, who lived in Fort Worth, Texas, began working to make Juneteenth a national holiday in 1989. In 2016, at the age of 89, she organized a symbolic walk from Fort Worth to Washington, DC. Lee walked 2.5 miles in each city along the way. The distance represented the approximately two and a half years it took for slaves in Texas to learn of their freedom.
Juneteenth Becomes a National Holiday
Lee's efforts paid off. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a law making Juneteenth a national holiday. This was the first new national holiday established in the US since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. Now 99 years old, Lee hopes this will bring Americans together.
The Importance of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a day for everyone to come together, not just for black people or Texans. Opal Lee says, 'Juneteenth is not a black thing, it's not a Texas thing. What's important to me is that we all have red blood.'
Conclusion
Juneteenth is a day that commemorates the historic journey that led to the end of slavery in the US. This day is a symbol of the struggle for freedom and equality. Opal Lee's efforts made Juneteenth a national holiday, providing an opportunity for Americans to come together.
