Understanding Juneteenth: A Historical Overview of America's Freedom Holiday

Juneteenth: A Look Back at America's Freedom Day Juneteenth, officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, marks a pivotal moment in American history: the emancipation of the last enslaved people in the Confederacy. While many perceive it as a recent observance, its roots stretch back over 150 years. The journey to freedom began on January 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring enslaved people in Confederate states free. However, news of this freedom was slow to reach remote areas, particularly Texas. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, over two years after the proclamation, that Union General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, officially proclaiming freedom from slavery in the state. This date became known as "Jubilee Day" and was first celebrated by freedmen in Texas in 1866. Over the decades, "Jubilee Day" evolved into what we now know as Juneteenth. Texas led the way in recognizing its significance, with Democratic State Representative Al Edwards of Houston successfully sponsoring legislation in 1979 to make Juneteenth a paid Texas state holiday. By 2019, 47 states and the District of Columbia recognized Juneteenth, though only Texas had adopted it as a paid holiday for state employees. Finally, on June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, cementing its place in the nation's calendar as a day of remembrance and celebration of freedom.