Juneteenth
On June 19th 1865, Union soldiers landed in Galveston, Texas with the following message.
“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 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer”
Two and a half years earlier on January 1,1863, President Lincoln formally ended slavery, announcing all slaves in the United States were free in the Emancipation Proclamation. While this document gave slaves their freedom, politically it allowed Blacks to enter into the Union army to fight, which was ongoing at the time. During the civil war, Texas slavery remained intact due to the relatively low number of Union troops and no significant fighting between the Union and Confederacy. Because of this, during the war, some slave owners moved to Texas, as a last resort to hold onto their old lives. Since it was illegal for Blacks to know how to read or write, many slaves, especially in Texas may not have known just how important the civil war or that it was even occurring. On top of this, some slave owners withheld this information from Blacks.
When I think about how powerful these words were to Blacks, who spent their whole lives, a life which someone else owned and used to build white wealth, I am at a loss. Even being a Black woman living in America, the feelings of shock, jubilation and hope that once enslaved Blacks experienced at that time is unfathomable to me. For the recently freed, immediate celebrations, and exodus from their plantations took place. For many there was a need to reunite with families, broken up by slavery, to celebrate.
Growing up in the Mt. Airy/Germantown section of Philadelphia, Juneteenth celebrations have been filled with jubilation, family, hope, and joy. In my household, Black history was always important, and we used Juneteenth as a time to celebrate the rich and dynamic strength of our ancestors; it is a chance for us as Blacks to commune and hear one another. Juneteenth has always and will always be special to me, and I wanted to take this opportunity and share how others in my community reflect on Juneteenth. Below are some statements I collected from friends and family on why Juneteenth is important to them.
The month of June has always been a reset button for me. Not only because it's my birth month but because of Juneteenth. As a Caribbean American, I always knew about the 4th of July but sadly, I only discovered our holiday through self research in my adolescence. The 19th of June represents more than freedom. It commemorates the first breath of fresh air for my ancestors. A full 24 hours for hope and release. An annual liberation from the daily struggles of blackness; to imagine the fulfillment of dreams without the attachment of fear. Although Juneteenth is tied to African Americans, I believe it's a celebration for the entire diaspora. The distant relatives, second cousins, and fake aunties of the world are just as happy to see those free as those being unshackled. The numbers 1 and 9 represent an Alpha and Omega, another chance to start again. Let’s get it!
Amanda Q. Wallace
Juneteenth is our Freedom Day! Growing up I honestly didn’t learn much about Juneteenth, it wasn’t until I got to undergrad that I found out more about the day and started celebrating it. The fact that slaves were actually freed 2 years before they formally knew about it is so upsetting and disappointing. The fact that we aren’t taught this in history classes across America is even more disappointing. Juneteenth represents our history and highlights how Black people have been treated for centuries. We celebrate our freedom now, but we must also pay homage to our history. To me, Juneteenth means honoring my ancestors by never forgetting their journey and making sure others don’t either.
Tiara N. Moore
To me, Juneteenth means the celebration of the freedom and sacrifice of all my ancestors. Slavery and the American chattel system is so important to me and my life because it’s inherently important to remember where we have come from and the tactics we used to survive and fight for our rights to be recognized as human citizens. I will always have a love and appreciation for my culture, and I am proud to celebrate the liberation and continuous struggle of African Americans in this country.
Kendall Alexander
As a white passing Latina, I’m embarrassed that I didn’t know what Juneteenth was until I met a good friend at the beginning of graduate school. To me, this day highlights African American lives, because without them, there would be no United States of America. African Americans inspire, bring beauty, uplift creativity, share wisdom, spread knowledge; ultimately they make this world a better place.
Kelcie L. Chiquillo