Juneteenth: Why We Celebrate

Author: Tammy Doss

All my life, my family has observed June 19th (Juneteenth).

To celebrate my mother’s birthday, June 19th, 1935. Mom died in 2021 and to our surprise state after state began recognizing Juneteenth as a State Holiday and then in June 2021, a National Holiday. We were so happy that our Mom, a lady of significant accomplishments, a lady who came from dirt floors that had to be swept out each day, to a Superintendent of Schools in a district in California was finally recognized for the great lady she was.

I'm kidding of course. That may be a good story to tell the grandkids, but there is a real explanation for the celebration of Juneteenth. On June 19th, 1865, General Gordon Granger of the Union Army sailed into Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the Civil War and per General Order No. 3 all slavery was abolished.

Originally, the celebration was called Jubilee Day. The day was celebrated in towns and counties throughout the country, but especially throughout the southern states. In 1938, Texas became the first state to recognize the occasion with an official Proclamation and in 1979 as a State Holiday. There have been attempts to make the day a National Holiday, especially when civil rights were a hot topic such as in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Eventually, beginning in the 2000’s, states began to recognize the day with official state holidays.

President Abraham Lincoln recognized that slavery was a stain on the soul and history of the United States of America and in 1863 issued the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in confederate states and eventually the order previously mentioned that officially ended slavery. In 2019, President Donald Trump proposed that Juneteenth be recognized as a National Holiday to “pay tribute to the indomitable spirit of African-Americans.” Finally, in 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law establishing Juneteenth as the 11th official National Holiday.

Festivals, parades, and cookouts are hallmarks of Juneteenth celebrations. These events foster a sense of community and provide a space for cultural expression, with music, dancing, and storytelling playing central roles.

Have a great day off and remember the reasons for the State and Federal holidays we are granted.