5 Facts About Juneteenth Everyone Should Know

1. Juneteenth celebrates the announcement of the freedom for many of the final remaining slaves in the United States The Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, announced the freedom of slaves.  Since Texas was the most remote of the Confederate states, and with little presence of the union, there were still a number of slave owners who maintained their operations with slaves.  On June 19, 1865, there was a decree that stated: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”2. 1867 is the first year official Juneteenth celebrations were held.  By 1872, black leaders in Texas raised $1,000 for the purchase of 10 acres of land to celebrate Juneteenth, today known as Emancipation Park. The observation was soon drawing thousands of attendees across Texas; an estimated 30,000 blacks celebrated at Booker T. Washington Park in Limestone County, TX. That park had been established in 1898 for Juneteenth celebrations. By the 1890s Jubilee Day had become known as Juneteenth.3. It took another 3-6 years after 1865 for the Texas Supreme Court to give legal status to the announcement.  Freedom was unfortunately not immediately experienced by the slaves whose freedom was announced on this important day.  It took multiple years in the courts to work out the reality of freedom for many who were slaved.  The final eradication of legal American Slavery would not end until the ratification of the 13th Amendment on December 18, 1865.4. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980, and currently, 47 states officially recognize it as a holiday. Unfortunately, this date is left unrealized by many.  Jim Crow laws, mass segregation, and many other forms of oppression left the black community with the lack of freedom they deserved.  This important date in American History is a significant milestone toward healing the dark stain slavery has left on American culture.5. Juneteenth is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the freedom all people deserve, educate yourself on the history of the black community, and move our world to be a more just place.