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Posts Tagged ‘juneteenth’

Celebrate Juneteenth

Friday, June 17th, 2022

 

A woman carries the Pan-African flag, a symbol of black unity, at a Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the freeing of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Credit: © Tippman98x/Shutterstock

A woman carries the Pan-African flag, a symbol of black unity, at a Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the freeing of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
Credit: © Tippman98x/Shutterstock

Last year, Juneteenth became a federal holiday. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. This festival is held in many African American and other communities annually. The name of the festival refers to the date, June 19—the day the last enslaved people were freed in the southern state of Texas in 1865.

Juneteenth festivities often include family reunions, parades, prayer services, plays, and storytelling. Some communities hold longer Juneteenth festivals that span several days as a celebration of civil rights and freedom. Juneteenth is a federal holiday observed in the District of Columbia and by federal employees throughout the United States. In addition, all of the states have recognized Juneteenth in an official capacity.

The festival originated in Texas at the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865). In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for the enslaved people in the Confederate States in rebellion against the Union. However, many owners of enslaved people in Texas suppressed information about the emancipation even after the war ended in April 1865. On June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger, a Union general, entered Galveston, Texas, and ordered all enslaved people in the state to be freed. About 250,000 enslaved people, among the last remaining in the United States, were freed.

Juneteenth celebrations were held only in Texas and a few communities in other states in the South in the years following the war. Black Americans carried the celebration with them as they migrated to other regions. Today, Juneteenth festivals have become popular celebrations of freedom and Black American culture in many communities throughout the country. Texas became the first U.S. state to recognize Juneteenth officially, in 1980. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021. In some places, Juneteenth is called Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, or Jubilee Day.

Tags: black americans, civil rights, emancipation, holidays, juneteenth, parade, slavery
Posted in Current Events, History | Comments Off

Happy Juneteenth!

Friday, June 18th, 2021
A woman carries the Pan-African flag, a symbol of black unity, at a Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the freeing of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Credit: © Tippman98x/Shutterstock

A woman carries the Pan-African flag, a symbol of Black unity, at a Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the freeing of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
Credit: © Tippman98x/Shutterstock

June 19 is Juneteenth, a festival held in many Black and other communities to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The name of the festival refers to the date, June 19—the day the last slaves were freed in the southern state of Texas in 1865. Juneteenth festivities often include plays and storytelling, parades, prayer services, and family reunions. Some communities hold longer Juneteenth festivals spanning several days as a celebration of civil rights and freedom.

African-American adults and children wait for floats to pass by during parade celebrating Juneteenth in the historically African-American town of Bastrop, near Austin, Texas USA. Juneteenth celebrates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of slavery and the Civil War. Credit: © Bob Daemmrich, Alamy Images

People wait for floats to pass by during a parade celebrating Juneteenth in the historically Black town of Bastrop, near Austin, Texas USA. Credit: © Bob Daemmrich, Alamy Images

Last year’s Juneteenth looked different than celebrations past, because of the ongoing pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. This year, festive Juneteenth celebrations have resumed in many places. Parades and festivals throughout the country will commemorate and celebrate Black life in America. If attending crowded events does not yet feel safe to you, you can celebrate Juneteenth by supporting Black-owned businesses, including stores and restaurants.

One way the national government is celebrating Juneteenth this year and for years to come is by making it a federal holiday. This week, Congress passed and President Joe Biden signed into law a bill to officially recognize Juneteenth each year.

Juneteenth originated in Texas at the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865). In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for the slaves in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union. However, many slave owners in Texas suppressed information about the emancipation even after the war ended in April 1865. On June 19, Gordon Granger, a Union general, entered Galveston, Texas, and ordered all slaves in the state to be freed. About 250,000 people, among the last slaves remaining in the United States, were freed.

Juneteenth celebrations were held only in Texas and a few communities in other southern states in the years following the Civil War. Black people carried the celebration with them, however, as they migrated to other regions of the country. The push to make Juneteenth a federal holiday gained momentum in 2020, during the widespread Black Lives Matter protests that followed the police killing of George Floyd.

Tags: emancipation, federal holiday, galveston, george floyd killing, juneteenth
Posted in Civil rights, Current Events, Government & Politics, History, Holidays/Celebrations, Race Relations | Comments Off

Juneteenth 2020

Thursday, June 18th, 2020
A woman carries the Pan-African flag, a symbol of black unity, at a Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the freeing of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. Credit: © Tippman98x/Shutterstock

A woman carries the Pan-African flag, a symbol of black unity, at a Juneteenth parade in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the freeing of slaves in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865.
Credit: © Tippman98x/Shutterstock

June 19 is Juneteenth, a festival held in many African American and other communities to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The name of the festival refers to the date, June 19—the day the last slaves were freed in the southern state of Texas in 1865. Juneteenth festivities often include plays and storytelling, parades, prayer services, and family reunions. Some communities hold longer Juneteenth festivals spanning several days as a celebration of civil rights and freedom.

However, this year’s Juneteenth looks different than celebrations past. The holiday is set against the backdrop of a pandemic (global outbreak) of the coronavirus disease COVID-19. Since March, much of the country has been under strict lockdown to help in social distancing. Many businesses and public places are only beginning to reopen. The celebration also takes added significance in the wake of protests against racism and the police use of force against African Americans, sparked by the killing of George Floyd and others.

Several museums and cultural centers are having virtual (online) Juneteenth celebrations. There will also be virtual film and music festivals. Another way to celebrate Juneteenth is to support such black-owned businesses as stores and restaurants—but be sure to follow social distancing guidelines to help keep everyone safe!

Juneteenth originated in Texas at the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865). In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for the slaves in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union. However, many slave owners in Texas suppressed information about the emancipation even after the war ended in April 1865. On June 19, Gordon Granger, a Union general, entered Galveston, Texas, and ordered all slaves in the state to be freed. About 250,000 people, among the last slaves remaining in the United States, were freed.

Juneteenth celebrations were held only in Texas and a few communities in other southern states in the years following the Civil War. African Americans carried the celebration with them, however, as they migrated to other regions of the country.

Tags: african americans, american civil war, celebrations, emancipation, holidays, juneteenth, slavery
Posted in Current Events, Government & Politics, History, Holidays/Celebrations, Race Relations | Comments Off

Juneteenth

Tuesday, June 20th, 2017

June 20, 2017

Yesterday, June 19, was Juneteenth, a festival held in many African American and other communities to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. The name of the festival refers to the date, June 19—the day the last slaves were freed in the southern state of Texas in 1865. Juneteenth festivities often include plays and storytelling, parades, prayer services, and family reunions. Some communities hold longer Juneteenth festivals spanning several days as a celebration of civil rights and freedom. Juneteenth has been a legal holiday in Texas since 1980.

Juneteenth.  Credit: © Svetlana Prikhnenko, Shutterstock

Juneteenth. Credit: © Svetlana Prikhnenko, Shutterstock

Juneteenth originated in Texas at the end of the American Civil War (1861-1865). In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared freedom for the slaves in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union. However, many slave owners in Texas suppressed information about the emancipation even after the war ended in April 1865. On June 19, 1865, Gordon Granger, a Union general, entered Galveston, Texas, and ordered all slaves in the state to be freed. About 250,000 people, among the last slaves remaining in the United States, were freed.

African-American adults and children wait for floats to pass by during parade celebrating Juneteenth in the historically African-American town of Bastrop, near Austin, Texas USA. Juneteenth celebrates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of slavery and the Civil War. Credit: © Bob Daemmrich, Alamy Images

People attend a Juneteenth parade in the town of Bastrop, near Austin, Texas. Juneteenth celebrates the day, June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of slavery and the Civil War. Credit: © Bob Daemmrich, Alamy Images

Juneteenth celebrations were held only in Texas and a few communities in other states in the southern United States in the years following the Civil War. African Americans carried the celebration with them, however, as they migrated to other regions of the country. Today, Juneteenth festivals are popular celebrations of freedom and African American culture throughout the country. Special Juneteenth events are held each year at numerous state museums as well as at the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

Tags: american civil war, juneteenth, slavery, texas, united states
Posted in History, Holidays/Celebrations, People, Race Relations | Comments Off

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