Juneteenth 2024
About
As Juneteenth approaches, we honor those who have worked deliberately to recognize the equal rights and dignity of all individuals, regardless of race. This movement began over one hundred fifty-nine years ago and continues today. But what exactly is Juneteenth?
Short for June Nineteenth, this holiday marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX, to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people were freed. While most states complied with The Emancipation Proclamation, it was not until U.S. General Gordon Granger stood on Texas soil on June 19, 1865, and read the order, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with the proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” that the change took effect in Texas. The following year, freedmen in Texas organized the first annual celebration on June 19.
Many years later, in 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Several states followed, but it was not until 2021 that congress established Juneteenth a federal holiday.
The holiday commemorates the years it took to outlaw the ownership and control of human beings with “inalienable rights” to freedom, serving as a step in owning the errors of a painful history. It embodies the spirit of hope and trust in each other as we look ahead to building futures as Americans, marking a history that is shared by all of us and celebrating freedom, unity, and equality.
Raising Awareness
How can you join and raise awareness this Juneteenth?
- Volunteer at a local Juneteenth celebration.
- Attend a Juneteenth celebration in your area.
- Visit a local Civil Rights or African American museum.
- Have conversations and ask questions about Juneteenth.
- Make this celebration a part of your everyday life: Purchase commodities at a Black-owned business, such as coffee shops, restaurants, grocers, clothing stores, etc.