Juneteenth

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This article is about the holiday. For the work by Ralph Ellison, see Juneteenth (novel).
Juneteenth
Also called Freedom Day or Emancipation Day
Observed by Residents of the United States, especially African Americans
Type Ethnic, historical
Significance Emancipation of last remaining slaves in the United States
Date June 19
Observances Exploration and celebration of African American history and heritage
Juneteenth celebration in Austin, Texas, on June 19, 1900.

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day is an American holiday honoring African American heritage and celebrated by people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas in 1865. Celebrated on June 19, the term is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, and is recognized as a state holiday in 31 of the United States.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Observation

The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas; for more than a century, the state of Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations. Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. It is considered a "partial staffing holiday" meaning that state offices do not close but some employees will be using a floating holiday to take the day off.[3] Twelve other states list it as an official holiday, including Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Alaska and California, where Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger proclaimed the day "Juneteenth" on June 19, 2005.[4][5] Connecticut, however, does not consider it a legal holiday or close government offices in observance of the occasion.[6] Its informal observance has spread to some other states, with a few celebrations even taking place in other countries.[7][5] Juneteenth is not considered a substitute for Independence Day.

As of May 2009, 31 states[1] and the District of Columbia have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or state holiday observance; these include Alaska,[5] Arkansas, California,[5] Colorado, Connecticut,[5] Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas,[2] Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan,[8] Missouri, New Jersey,[5] New Mexico, New York,[5], Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas,[1] Vermont,[1] Virginia, Washington and Wyoming.[9]

[edit] History

Statue on the grounds of Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas, commemorating the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation at that site on June 19, 1865.

Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had minimal immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Texas was resistant to the Emancipation Proclamation, and though slavery was very prevalent in East Texas, it was not as common in the Western areas of Texas, particularly the Hill Country, where most German-Americans were opposed to the practice. Juneteenth commemorates June 18 and 19, 1865. June 18 is the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. On June 19, 1865, legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3”:

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. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.[10]

That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a portmanteau of the words June, eighteenth and nineteenth.

Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year.[10] Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities’ increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings — including Houston’s Emancipation Park, Mexia’s Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin.[10]

[edit] In literature

Ralph Ellison's second novel Juneteenth deals with this holiday and its traditions. Juneteenth was published posthumously.

Carolyn Meyer's novel Jubilee Journey is the story of one young biracial girl celebrating Juneteenth with her relatives in Texas, while also learning to be proud of her African American heritage.

Ann Rinaldi's historical novel Come Juneteenth is the story of how Juneteenth came to be, and follows the life of a young white plantation-owner's daughter in Texas during the Civil War whose family faces tragedy after their mulatto half-sister runs away when learning they lied to her about being free.

[edit] Traditions

Traditions include an annunciated public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation as a reminder that the slaves have been proclaimed free. The events are celebratory and festive. Many African American families use this opportunity to retrace their ancestry to the ancestors who were held in bondage for centuries, exchange artifacts, debunk family myths, and stress responsibility and striving to be the best you can be.[11] Celebrants often sing traditional songs as well such as Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; Lift Every Voice and Sing; and poetry from Black authors like Maya Angelou.[12] Juneteenth celebrations also include a wide range of festivities to celebrate American heritage, such as parades, rodeos, street fairs, cookouts, family reunions, or park parties that include such things as African American music and dancing or contests of physical strength and intellect. Some of the events may include things such as black cowboys, historical reenactments, or Miss Juneteenth contests. Traditional American sports may also be played such as baseball, football, or basketball tournaments.[13]

[edit] Juneteenth's decline and resurgence

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States and has actually been an African American tradition since the late 1800's.[14] Economic and cultural forces caused a decline in Juneteenth celebrations beginning in the early 1900’s. The Depression forced many blacks off of farms and into the cities to find work. In these urban environments, employers were less eager to grant leaves to celebrate this date. July 4th was the already established Independence holiday and a rise in patriotism amoung black Americans steered more toward this celebration. The Civil Rights movement of the 50’s and 60’s yielded both positive and negative results for the Juneteenth celebrations. While it pulled many of the African American youth away and into the struggle for racial equality, many linked these struggles to the historical struggles of their ancestors.[15]

Again in 1968, Juneteenth received another strong resurgence through Poor Peoples March to Washington D.C.. Rev. Ralph Abernathy’s call for people of all races, creeds, economic levels and professions to come to Washington to show support for the poor. Many of these attendees returned home and initiated Juneteenth celebrations in areas previously absent of such activity. Throughout the 80’s and 90’s Juneteenth has continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from communities and organizations throughout the country as African Americans have a growing interest to see that the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten. Many see roots tying back to Texas soil from which all remaining American slaves were finally granted their freedom.[16]

[edit] See also

African American portal

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "Vermont adopts Juneteenth". http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS02/806110310/1009/NEWS01. Retrieved on 2008-06-11. 
  2. ^ a b "Kansas Becomes the 31st State to Recognize Juneteenth as a State Holiday". National Juneteenth Observance Foundation. http://www.juneteenth.us/pressrelease20.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-29. 
  3. ^ "Official Holidays of the State of Texas". State of Texas website. http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/holidays.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-06. 
  4. ^ ""Governor Schwarzenegger Proclaims June 19th "Juneteenth"". Proclamation by the Governor of the State of California. http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/proclamation/2062/. Retrieved on 2007-05-16. 
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Moskin, Julie (2004-06-18). "An Obscure Texas Celebration Makes Its Way Across the U.S." (HTML). The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/18/national/18june.html?ex=1402891200&en=81d7a9a2f150231c&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND. Retrieved on 2006-08-17. 
  6. ^ "Legal Holidays in Connecticut". State of Connecticut website. http://www.ct.gov/ctportal/cwp/view.asp?a=843&q=246434#Holidays. Retrieved on 2006-07-06. 
  7. ^ "The World Celebrates Freedom" (HTML). http://www.juneteenth.com/international.htm. Retrieved on 2006-06-19. 
  8. ^ "Juneteenth Freedom Day". http://www.michigan.gov/gov/0,1607,7-168-23442_25488_47946-194263--,00.html. Retrieved on 15 January 2009. 
  9. ^ http://www.juneteenth.com/
  10. ^ a b c "Juneteenth". State of Texas website. http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/ref/abouttx/juneteenth.html. Retrieved on 2006-07-06. 
  11. ^ http://www.juneteenth.com/howtocelebrate.htm
  12. ^ Taylor, 2002. pp. 28-29.
  13. ^ http://www.juneteenth.com/howtocelebrate.htm
  14. ^ http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm
  15. ^ http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm
  16. ^ http://www.juneteenth.com/history.htm

[edit] External links

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