A Holiday in Celebration of Freedom Juneteenth is a holiday that has celebrated the emancipation of Texas slaves for over 100 years. While its roots are in Texas, it has become a special day for African Americans all around the United States.
The celebration of Juneteenth began in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. It was on this day that the slaves in Galveston learned that they were free. Major General Gordon arrived in Galveston bearing the good news. Upon the General's arrival, he read General Order Number 3 to the newly freed slaves from the balcony of Ashton Villa in Galveston, Texas. The order stated:
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 rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer. The freedmen are advised to remain 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.
For these slaves the news of freedom came two and a half years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Despite the delay, it was a day to celebrate freedom. Thereafter June 19 remained an important day.
With freedom came many choices. Some former slaves chose to stay and work for their old masters’, while others moved away to neighboring states. Juneteenth remained an important holiday, and many of those who moved away came back for the annual festivities. Others took with them the traditions of Juneteenth, and it spread throughout the country.
In the earlier years, most festivities took place around rivers, creeks and on church grounds. As traditions developed, activities and food became an important part of the celebration. Activities included rodeos, fishing, barbecuing, and baseball. Strawberry soda, lamb, pork, and beef were just a few of the favorite dishes. Additionally, education and self-improvement were prevalent themes. Guest speakers and elders used it as an opportunity to recount the past. Lastly, prayer services were important.
However, celebrations began to decline in the early 1900s as children were taught in the classroom instead of at home. In the past, families had taught their children the traditions of Juneteenth, but as schoolbooks replaced family customs, traditions were not passed on. The depression also had an effect on the decline of celebrations. Many African Americans were forced to leave farms in search of work in the cities. Whereas, most landowners had given laborers the day off, employers in the city were less likely to give their employees time off for Juneteenth festivities.
The importance of Juneteenth resurged in the 1950s and 1960s as the civil rights movement was underway. In the Atlanta civil rights demonstrations of the early 1960s, marchers wore Juneteenth freedom buttons. In 1968, many African Americans began to see the significance of Juneteenth after the Poor Peoples March to Washington D.C. Many returned home and had Juneteenth celebrations. Additionally, January 1, 1980, marked a significant day when Texas named Juneteenth an official state holiday in celebration of the emancipation of the slaves in Texas in 1865.
