15 Must Know Juneteenth Facts About American Federal Holidaya

Even though Americans got their country free from the British in 1776, they all were not actually free or had much freedom in their own country.

It was only on June 19, 1865, that African Americans in the country felt free and had a stay of freedom and expression in their country. By the 1980s in Texas, Juneteenth became a state holiday, and more and more states followed up, subsequently adding to the list of celebrating the holiday.

In 2021, it was made a federal holiday celebrated outside the U.S to bring awareness to many people about slavery, honor, and encourage African Americans’ achievements and culture.

The states of Texas, Louisiana, Maine, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and Washington celebrated the day of Juneteenth in their respective states as an official paid state holiday and an annual holiday from 2021.

The state of West Virginia joined the Union completely by abolishing slavery and ratifying the 13th amendment in 1865 on February 3, and following the segregation laws.

Read on to know more about the role of Jamaican activist Marcus Garvey behind the Juneteenth flag. Afterward, also check out boxing day facts and facts about Bolton.

Juneteenth Day: History

Recently on June 16, 2021, American President Joe Biden signed the law establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday in the United States of America.

The law was signed before as a state holiday in Texas in 1980, and slowly after, many more individual states declared Juneteenth as the day as a state holiday or an observance in their place.

The day of the holiday commemorates the end of the worst influence, slavery in the U.S. the name ‘Juneteenth’ is a combination of the two words, ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth.’ The day of remembrance is celebrated across the U.S on June 19.

The first celebration of the holiday was noted on June 19, 1866, in Texas. The newly freed people, the African Americans, marked their one-year anniversary on this day of their newly learned Emancipation proclamation, after two years of its initial issue.

The black liberation and independence of the significant date were first celebrated by singing spirituals and with prayer meetings and by wearing new clothes on their freedom day celebrations.

Juneteenth day celebrations which first started in Texas state, began to be celebrated in other states as well. And slowly, the festivals and celebrations of many black farming families and other African Americans began to be made an annual tradition in most of the American states to celebrate Juneteenth.

The state holiday of the African American community and Juneteenth celebrations of this official state holiday tracks back to the American history of the emancipation proclamation of 1863.

During the times of Civil War in 1863, when Abraham Lincoln was the president of the states, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring about the lives of more than 3 million slaves who wanted freedom living in the Confederate.

After two and more years been passed, when union army soldiers arrived in Texas, Galveston, on June 19, 1865, the African Americans in the state finally got relieved and learned about the abolishment of slavery.

The enslaved people and former slaves celebrated lincoln’s proclamation and its success by praying, dancing, singing, and feasting.

Juneteenth: Other Names

The freedom day of black Americans in the U.S on June 19 is also known as Juneeth National Independence Day. The day is also famous for the names: Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day (TX), Freedom Day, and Black Independence day.

The term Juneteenth is actually a combination of the two words ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth,’ both telling the day of the honoring event of the history of African Americans in the United States of America.

They have been oppressed and been treated unequally with racist comments and more hardships. Juneteenth flag-raising ceremony and many other traditions are believed to be the first and oldest African American holiday to be celebrated on June 19, 1866, in different parts of the country.

The holiday event recognizes the end of slavery of enslaved people, and the day is also used to recognize and celebrate African American culture and traditions.

Juneteenth: Significance

Juneteenth national independence day symbolizes black liberation and also marks the date of major significance in the history of African Americans. These laws freed slaves and tried to bring absolute equality to all. Here are some other essential facts related to the significance of Juneteenth Day:

People believe that Juneteenth is a day to think, reflect and to learn and grow as a nation as a people, considering everyone as equals and treating everyone with respect. Also, the struggle and daily fight of black Americans, especially black African Americans, is shown as a battle that would still be going on.

Juneteenth commemorates the day when Union Soldiers finally reached Texas and read the emancipation proclamation or orders, which stated in part, ‘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 personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.’

Early on, Juneteeth became a day when families who were separated because of slavery searched for one another. Many newspapers placed advertisements from families searching for their loved ones.

African Americans also joined together to purchase land because they were often denied the use of public spaces. They used this land to create a communal space for their celebrations and festivities, often naming the place Emancipation Park.

The civil rights movement in the 1960s overshadowed the Juneteenth celebrations in the U.S. But the spirits were brought back by the Poor People’s Campaign led by Martin Luther King Jr. by holding a Juneteenth solidarity day. Slowly the holiday became a state-sponsored celebration in 1980 in Texas.

Today, Juneteeth helps maintain a sense of community, culture, and belonging. It is an essential reminder that freedom and justice are imperative parts of human rights for everyone. Juneteeth emphasizes African American achievements and education. This day provides a day for remembrance of our combined past and allows reflection on our future goals as a country.

Juneteeth supports a cross-cultural understanding of African American history, a remembrance of the past, and a way to embrace the future together in a positive and enlightening way. It is a positive representation of how people can overcome hardships and come together for the betterment of everyone.

Juneteenth Day: Traditions

The past Juneteenth celebrations had prayers, singing, and a small feast. Later on, the official first-ever Juneteenth celebrations on June 19, 1965, the celebrations became more authentic and spiritual with the singing of spirituals, wearing new clothes showing freedom, and obviously, feasts.

Slowly people legally recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday in many states other than the originating state of Texas. The federal holiday celebrated in the specific states became an annual tradition. Even in today’s 21st century, Juneteenth, a federal holiday, is celebrated with speeches, educational events, religious services, prayer, picnics, family members gatherings, dancing, music, food, and festivals.

The independence day of the black African Americans talking in the modern aspects should be celebrated by supporting black people’s businesses, being aware and giving yourself some education on the Black history and using your voice and actions to spread love and celebrate freedom along with everyone treating all as equals.

Many prominent former masters in American history are black and have achieved the most that they could in their times.

Juneeth independence day celebrations are just about having fun and embracing the identity of being black and supporting and respecting them, giving equal space in the society. Street fairs, barbeques, fireworks, drinks, and gatherings are how some enjoy the day in history.

These celebration styles show the perseverance and honoring of the great African American leaders and people. They had shed their blood and sweat for the independence and equality of the blacks.

Others support the cause of the holiday by shopping in black-owned business shops and markets. People also express their wishes by just saying ‘Happy Juneteenth’ or messaging them the wishes and expressing your desire for them to have a fulfilled day.

Even if the American holiday of Juneteenth is not as much recognized or celebrated all around the world or even in the whole country as any other American holiday, it is important to at least acknowledge the importance of this remarkable historical day of the African American people.

Some great ways to recognize the holiday is by considering some paid time off for your employees to celebrate the holiday, by letting them share their personal opinions and reflections on the event, inviting guest speakers to give more awareness on the history and struggle of the blacks, and more.

You can also support the cause by participating in local events, sharing the values of equality, and accepting diversity. You can fit the theme of ‘Independence day for black folks’ by wearing the common-themed dressings in white, red, and blue to go with the vibe of this holiday.

The dressing themes are perfectly a match for the Pan-African flag of the Juneteenth flag with red and half blue colored stripes and a bold white star overlay representing the new star for the horizon of the black African American community.

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