Juneteenth Explained

Synopsis

For many black Americans, Independence Day is not July 4th but June 19th, known as Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the U.S. were informed of their freedom. This year's celebrations carry heightened significance following George Floyd's death, which reignited the fight for equality. Although President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, it took two and a half years for enslaved Texans to learn of their freedom. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger announced the order for equality of rights in Galveston, Texas. Despite the establishment of Juneteenth celebrations, the struggle for true equality continues, as evidenced by the ongoing violence against black Americans, including the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. The Poor People's Campaign, led by Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, chose June 19th for its solidarity day rally, linking the fight against poverty to the legacy of slavery. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980, with New Hampshire being the latest state to do so last year.