READING LEVEL
Summary
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated by many African Americans. The holiday dates back to June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. On that day, General Gordon Granger arrived with 2,000 Union troops and issued an order announcing the end of slavery in Texas. The next year, African Americans in Galveston began holding freedom celebrations. People gathered to pray, hear from speakers, share their stories, and enjoy food together. By the 1870s, Juneteenth celebrations were being held in nearby states. The celebrations often included a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, parades, games, rodeos, and barbeques.
In Virginia, the celebration date that marks the end of slavery, sometimes called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, differed in different Black communities. As some of these celebrations began to fade in the late 1900s, Juneteenth celebrations gained popularity with the increase of interest in Black history and culture. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. On October 13, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a law to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in Virginia.
Origins of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated by many African Americans. The holiday started on June 19, 1865, the day the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. On that day, General Gordon Granger arrived with 2,000 Union troops and issued General Order No. 3, proclaiming the end of slavery in Texas. The order that “all slaves are free” was read by the troops at several places throughout the city and published in newspapers throughout the state.
It had been ten weeks since the official end of the Civil War (1861-1865), but news of the Confederate defeat traveled slowly. Enslaved people in Confederate states were officially freed by the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But the order was hard to enforce in states like Texas with few Union troops. Galveston was the largest city in Texas with one of the largest slave markets west of New Orleans. The announcement of the end of slavery sparked great joy for the almost 1,500 newly free Black peoples of Galveston
Celebrating the Juneteenth Holiday in Texas
In 1866, African Americans in Galveston began holding freedom celebrations. People gathered to pray, hear from speakers, share their stories, and enjoy food together. By the 1870s, Juneteenth celebrations were being held in nearby states. The celebrations often included a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, parades, games, rodeos, and barbeques. The celebrations often featured red soda water to honor a red drink used for special occasions in West Africa.
By the end of the 1800s, many textbooks used in schools in southern states gave stripped down versions of history, including the history of slavery. The focus of freedom celebrations was the Fourth of July or January 1, 1863 (the date the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect). As a result, General Order No. 3 was not taught in schools and Juneteenth did not become part of the national story.
In Virginia, the date of celebration that marks the end of slavery, sometimes called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, differed in different Black communities. Virginia was home to at least a half-million enslaved people as the Civil War began. When slavery ended, many newly free people moved through the country searching for family. As they traveled, they carried their traditions with them. Many Black Virginians adopted the Juneteenth holiday. Meanwhile, the Black community in Richmond celebrated on April 3, the date that the Union troops liberated Richmond. They honored the occasion with a large parade. This tradition lasted until the early 20th century. African Americans in Alexandria celebrated emancipation on April 7, the date in 1864 when the new state Constitution abolished slavery in Alexandria. In Norfolk, African Americans celebrated January 1 with an Emancipation Day parade. African Americans in Loudoun County celebrated the end of slavery on September 22, the day President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.
As some of these celebrations began to fade in the late 1900s, Juneteenth celebrations gained popularity with the increase of interest in Black history and culture. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. On October 13, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a law to make Juneteenth an official state holiday in Virginia.
Summary
Juneteenth is a holiday that many African Americans celebrate. The holiday began when the enslaved people of Texas learned they were free on June 19th, 1865. On that day, a Union General came and gave an order to announce the end of slavery in Texas. The next year, African Americans in Texas began holding celebrations. People gathered to pray, hear from speakers, and enjoy food together. By the 1870s, people in nearby states celebrated Juneteenth as well. At the celebrations, people would hear a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and could take part in many other fun events.
In Virginia, the date of the celebration was different in different Black communities. Some of these celebrations began to fade in the late 1900s. But as more people became interested in Black history and culture, Juneteenth celebrations became more popular. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. On October 13, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a law to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Virginia.
Origins of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday that many African Americans celebrate. The holiday began when the enslaved people of Texas learned they were free on June 19th, 1865. On that day, a Union General came and gave an order to announce the end of slavery in Texas. The order that “all slaves are free” was read at several places throughout the city. It was also published in newspapers throughout the state.
It had been ten weeks since the end of the Civil War (1861-1865), but news of the Union victory traveled slowly. Enslaved people in Confederate states were officially freed by the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But the order was hard to enforce in states like Texas because there were so few Union troops. Galveston was the largest city in Texas. It also had one of the largest slave markets in the west. The announcement of the end of slavery brought great joy for the almost 1,500 newly free Black peoples of Galveston, Texas.
Celebrating the Juneteenth Holiday in Texas
In 1866, African Americans in Galveston began holding freedom celebrations. People gathered to pray, hear from speakers, and enjoy food together. By the 1870s, people in nearby states celebrated Juneteenth as well. At the celebrations, people would hear a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and could take part in many other fun events. Parades, games, rodeos, and barbeques were enjoyed by many. The celebrations often featured red soda water to honor a red drink used for special occasions in West Africa.
By the end of the 1800s, many textbooks used in schools did not give many accurate details about history, including the history of slavery. As a result, General Order No. 3 was not taught in schools and Juneteenth did not become part of the nation’s story.
In Virginia, the date of the celebration was different in different Black communities. Some of these celebrations began to fade in the late 1900s. Over a half-million enslaved people lived in Virginia just before the Civil War began. Once slavery ended, many newly freed people traveled the country looking for family members. As they traveled, they carried their traditions with them. Many Black Virginians adopted the Juneteenth holiday. Meanwhile, the Black community in Richmond celebrated on April 3, the date that the Union troops liberated Richmond. In Alexandria, they celebrated emancipation on April 7, the date when the new state Constitution abolished slavery in Alexandria in 1864. In Norfolk, Black communities celebrated January 1 with an Emancipation Day parade. And in Loudoun County, Black Virginians celebrated the end of slavery on September 22, the day President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Emancipation Proclamation.
Some of these celebrations began to fade in the late 1900s. But as more people became interested in Black history and culture, Juneteenth celebrations became more popular. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth a state holiday. On October 13, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed a law to make Juneteenth a state holiday in Virginia.
Origins of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, which combines the words June and nineteenth, is a holiday celebrated by many African Americans to commemorate the end of legal slavery in the United States. It has its origins in June 19, 1865, the day the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas, learned they were free when Union general Gordon Granger arrived with 2,000 troops and issued General Order No. 3, proclaiming the end of slavery in Texas. The order declaring that “all slaves are free” was read by the troops at several locations throughout the city, including Union headquarters at the Osterman Building and the Negro Methodist Episcopal Church South, and published in newspapers throughout the state.
It had been ten weeks since Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, ending the American Civil War (1861-1865), but news of the Confederate defeat traveled slowly and unevenly. Enslaved individuals in Texas and the other states that seceded from the Union officially had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But there was no enforcement of the proclamation in remote states like Texas with few Union troops. Granger’s announcement of the end of slavery was met with jubilation by the newly freed Black population of Galveston, which numbered approximately 1,500 at the time in what was the state’s largest city, a prosperous port that was home to the largest slave market west of New Orleans.
Celebrating the Juneteenth Holiday in Texas
In 1866, African Americans in Galveston began holding an annual emancipation celebration to commemorate June 19th in which they gathered to pray, hear from orators, and share their history over various culinary offerings. By the 1870s, Juneteenth celebrations were being held in surrounding states and often included a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, parades, games, rodeos, and barbeques, which often featured red soda water in homage to the red drink that had marked special occasions in West Africa.
At the turn of the century, however, textbooks used in southern states offered a narrow rendering of history, including the history of slavery. The focus of freedom celebrations was the Fourth of July or January 1, 1863, the date the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. As a result, General Order No. 3 was not taught in schools, and Juneteenth did not become part of the national narrative.
In Virginia, the date of celebration marking the end of slavery, sometimes called Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, differed in various African American communities. Virginia was home to at least a half-million enslaved people on the eve of the Civil War. When slavery ended, many formerly enslaved people moved about the country in search of family, carrying their traditions with them, and some Black Virginians adopted the Juneteenth holiday. Meanwhile, the African American community in Richmond celebrated emancipation on April 3, the date that Union troops liberated Richmond, with a large parade through the city. This tradition lasted until the early twentieth century. African Americans in Alexandria celebrated emancipation on April 7, the date in 1864 when the new state Constitution abolished slavery in Alexandria and other areas under Union control. In Norfolk, African Americans celebrated January 1 with an Emancipation Day parade, a tradition that began in 1863 and continued until at least 1944. African American communities in Loudoun County celebrated the end of slavery on September 22, the day President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The Loudoun County Emancipation Association held an annual celebration until 1967 on “emancipation grounds” it purchased in 1910 in Purcellville.
As some of these historic commemorations faded in the second half of the twentieth century, Juneteenth, one of the oldest celebrations of the end of slavery, gained popularity with the increased interest in African American history and culture. Juneteenth celebrations became popular throughout the country as a centralized date to celebrate Black emancipation. In 1980, Texas became the first state to commemorate Juneteenth as an official holiday. Today every state except South Dakota recognizes Juneteenth. On October 13, 2020, Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation to codify Juneteenth as an official state holiday in Virginia.
