History: Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19 that the Union soldiers landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official January 1, 1863.
In the early years, little interest existed outside the Black community in participation in the celebrations. In some cases, there was outwardly exhibited resistance by barring the use of the public property from being used to celebrate Juneteenth.
Often, church grounds were the site for Juneteenth celebrations. Eventually, as Black people became landowners, land was donated and dedicated for these festivities. One of the earliest documented land purchases in the name of Juneteenth was organized by Rev. Jack Yates. This fund-raising effort yielded $1000 (roughly $19,000 today) and made possible the purchase of Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas.
Traditions: The day was celebrated by praying and bringing families together. In some Juneteenth celebrations, men and women who had been enslaved as well as their descendants made it an annual pilgrimage to travel back to Galveston, Texas.
Today, while some celebrations take place among families in backyards with food, which is an integral element, some cities, like Atlanta, hold larger events like parades and festivals with residents, local businesses, and more.
Galveston has remained a busy site for Juneteenth events over the years, says Douglas Matthews, who has helped coordinate them for more than two decades. He said the city usually has about 15 events, including parades, barbecues, musical performances, and a beauty contest, beginning in the first week of June. Combined, the events draw about 10,000 people in total, he said.
“This year, there’s only probably about two or three events because of the coronavirus epidemic,” Matthews says. “We’re just happy with the significance of our Juneteenth anniversary.”
Juneteenth 2020: With the current civil rights movement being what it is, Juneteenth is finally getting the national recognition that it deserves. While many cities have been holding large parades and festivals in celebration of the holiday for decades, it is only this year that Juneteenth is beginning to get recognized by companies as a work holiday.
Companies such as Twitter, Square Space, and Lyft have are all observing Juneteenth as a holiday as of 2020. A comprehensive list of companies doing this can be found here.
Juneteenth is every bit American as any shindig you’ve attended in honor of the red, white, and blue. This year, numerous cities celebrate this momentous occasion with a host of activities including live music performances, lots of food, arts and crafts, and other entertainment options that are unique to each festival.
Beyond that, cultural museums and local organizations have taken it upon themselves to offer Juneteenth-related festivities, successfully spreading awareness of Black culture and history.
Hundreds of people gathered Saturday, June 13, at Manual High School in Colorado to participate in the Juneteenth Parade this year, led by Denver School Board Member Tay Anderson and other community leaders.
“It stands for togetherness. It stands for unity, so it’s important we get together and stand for each other,” Denver Juneteenth organizer Norma Harris says.
Given everything that’s gone on locally and nationally in the past few weeks, this year’s celebration hits differently.
