Juneteenth: The oldest known celebration of the end of Slavery in America

In recent years a missing page from history has revealed that Philadelphia, long known as the nation’s Cradle of Liberty, is also the starting point for the nation’s oldest African American holiday. Two years prior to Juneteenth — the oldest celebration commemorating the end of slavery in America — Philadelphia would be the first city to host the first African in America Parade in the United States of America. This parade consisted of several hundred African Americans marching without arms or uniforms in file with drums, and inspiring banners as they headed for the first training camp for the United States Colored Troop’s (U.S.C.T.).

Celebration of the Abolition of Slavery in the District of Columbia for Colored People in Washington, April 19, 1866 Wood Engraving from a sketch by F. Dielman in Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper. | Library of Congress

When the Civil War broke out in 1861, free Blacks and runaway slaves in the North rushed to sign-up with Union armies. Many were turned away, told it was a white man’s war. It was almost two years before African-American men got their chance to fight.

The formation of Camp William Penn dates from July 17, 1862, when Congress enacted a bill called The Militia Act authorizing the President “to employ as many persons of African descent as he may deem necessary for the suppression of the rebellion, and for this purpose, he may organize and use them in such manner as he may judge best for the public welfare.”