Finally, Juneteenth is now a federal holiday! It’s time for ALL Americans to celebrate!
“Today on Juneteenth, the day we celebrate the end of slavery, the day we memorialize those who offered us hope for the future and the day when we renew our commitment to the struggle for freedom.” — Angela Davis
Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 during the third year of the Civil War. Yay!...kind of. This declaration didn't set all the slaves free, just those in the Confederate states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. The executive order did not apply to enslaved people in bordering states that were loyal to the Union.
In many places, especially Texas, slavery continued. Many slave owners considered Texas a safe space since it was so far from the frontlines of the war and brought many of their (illegal) slaves with them. But, on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the Civil War was officially over and to let this far away territory finally know all slaves were free.
General Order No. 3 states,
"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."
An early Juneteenth celebration
Juneteenth is celebrated to honor the day all enslaved people were made aware of the Emancipation Proclamation and were officially legally released from their bonds.
While there's still plenty of work to do before we can declare "equality for all", Juneteenth is a day of celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the South. This is an important day in American history for all races and nationalities.
Here are some suggestions to honor the occasion:
Host a Juneteenth event, party or BBQ or join a public celebration, while following local Covid-19 social distancing guidelines
Support and shope black-owned businesses by being a customer
Donate to organizations that are committed to supporting the black community
Juneteenth is not only a time for celebration, but also for reflection…remembering the past and recognizing what work still needs to be done in the present and future. Listening to Black experiences and turning up the volume on Black voices can only help us grow as a nation.
Listening to the needs and desires of Black women has shaped the hair industry. Below are some achievements that deserve the spotlight. The hair and beauty industries would be completely different without these smart inventors, educators and business women.
Let us know in the comments how you commemorate Juneteenth!
