What’s What?
Learn or refresh your memory about this historical holiday! This post provides an overview and history of the now federally recognized holiday of Juneteenth, which is an extremely important day/event in American history.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is now a national holiday that commemorates the day of June 19, 1865; when the last 250,000 people still enslaved in the Texas confederacy were declared free, 2 and a half years after slavery was already abolished.
On June 18, the U.S. Army arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce that slavery was over by order of the president. The next day became known as Juneteenth, which is the merging of the words June and Nineteenth.
Although it has taken more than 150 years for the national government to declare this very important day a national holiday, the first Juneteenth celebrations began the very next year.
However, it wasn’t until June 17, 2021, that Juneteenth was declared a national holiday in the United States.
What’s Tea?
The emancipation proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War on September 22, 1862. For the majority of those enslaved, their freedom was effective on January 1, 1863. However, more than 2 years had passed before the news reached those enslaved in the confederacy.
U.S. General Gordon Granger publicly read General Order No. 3, which stated: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
According to the National Museum of African American History & Culture, the more than a quarter of a million slaves in Texas were shocked to hear the years-old news.
5 little known Facts
There’s a flag for Juneteenth! It is called the Juneteenth Flag of Freedom, and it is half red and half blue with a star in the middle. It was created and copyrighted by Hassie Benjamin Haith Jr., also known as Boston Ben, who is a Black American activist from Boston, Massachusetts. He is also recognized as the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation.
In 1872, a group of former Texas slaves collected more than $800 to buy 10 acres of open land, near what is now Houston, to use for annual Juneteenth celebrations. They named the parcel Emancipation Park, and it remains the oldest public park in the state.
The celebration of Juneteenth transcends borders. Juneteenth is celebrated in Coahuila, Mexico by the Mascogos population. Centered on the town of El Nacimiento in Múzquiz Municipality, the group are descendants of Black Seminoles escaping the threat of slavery in the United States.
Red-colored food and drink is a common culinary sight at Juneteenth celebrations. Red or crimson, became a symbol of strength and resilience, influenced by the significance of the color red in some West African countries. Food historians often point out that barbecue is also a focal point, with Texas newspaper articles from the late-1800s reporting that “the preparation and sharing of food was the main attraction” at many a Juneteenth celebration.
Meet Opal Lee, also known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth”. At 89 years old, retired teacher and counselor Opal set out to make Juneteenth nationally known and recognized as a holiday. To start, she organized walks in cities across the country, raising awareness and garnering support for the cause. Soon her campaign gained momentum, captured the attention of the nation and manifested in the official recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
In 2023, Lee’s significant contributions were further acknowledged when she became the second Black person to have her portrait hung in the Senate chamber of the Texas Capitol. And in 2024, she now sits in a paid off home on the very lot in Fort Worth, Texas her family was attacked by an angry gang, who were maddened by their existence in the neighborhood.
What’s Luxe?
Knowing about and celebrating your Black history & culture is always what’s up & what’s luxe! Always remember: Black history IS American History! Whether you’re relaxing & reflecting, commemorating with friends & family, celebrating loudly & proudly, please remember and honor the ancestors who sacrificed and suffered so that we could smile and shine today.
The annual celebration (big or small) of Juneteenth is more important than ever these days. Even the mention of the holiday not only helps initiate the difficult conversations, but also keep them in rotation. The recognition of Juneteenth continues to raise awareness about the United States’ ugly and tragic history of enslaving Africans and the economic and social injustices against them and their descendants thereafter.
What are you doing to celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth and the ancestors? I almost always celebrate any special occasion with food. There’s nothing like cooking then enjoying the fruits of your labor for days. Or getting dressed and going out for a delicious meal with great service and ambiance.
We’ll be grilling watermelon, eating barbecue and relaxing!
