Little Portrait: Juneteenth in the History
Still in the atmosphere of the racism protest in the United States, we couldn’t and must not forget the power, the hope, the dream, and the history of Juneteenth
Juneteenth, the word which was the abbreviation of June-nineteenth, is a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. And have you ever wondered that this commemoration also has a supporter and organization? You can check it at it official website, Juneteenth.com
Juneteenth is annually celebrated on June 19 by African-Americans since the late 1800s. However, this year is like a totally different celebration because it was colored by the political movement of President Donald Trump campaign and referring to BBC, this year, amid nationwide anti-racism protests following the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, many companies have given employees the day off as usual. Far away from the explanation above, here, what you need to know about Juneteenth.
The Brief History
Juneteenth or Día de Juneteenth (Spanish) is an opportunity for people to celebrate freedom and equality in the United States and this is an annual commemoration on June 19 to remember when the Union soldiers enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and released all the remaining slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865.
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According to Juneteenth Website, Juneteenth was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — which had become official on January 1, 1863. On June 19, the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Texas, precisely at Galveston, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Talking about The Emancipation Proclamation, it firstly had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance. After slavery abolished, the former slaves immediately began to celebrate with prayer, feasting, song, and dance.
According to Britannica, the following year, on June 19, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place in Texas. The original observances included the singing of spirituals and prayer meetings, and celebrants wore new clothes as a way of representing their newfound freedom. Within a few years, the celebration not only been held in Texas but also in other states were celebrating the day, making it an annual tradition. Celebrations have continued across the United States into the 21st century and typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with music, food, and dancing.
Referring again from Juneteenth, in 1980, Juneteenth became a state holiday in Texas, and a number of other states subsequently followed suit. The day is also celebrated outside the United States, with organizations in a number of countries using the day to recognize the end of slavery and to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans.
What Usually People Do
On Juneteenth commemoration day, some people decorate conference rooms or corridors at their workplace, their neighborhoods, and yards with Juneteenth banners, yard signs, and flags to raise awareness of the event.
According to timeanddate, public events, community, and private events are held to celebrate Juneteenth, often on weekends approaching June 19. These include:
- Baseball games
- Community flag-raising ceremonies
- An essay or artwork competitions for young people
- Juneteenth displays in city halls, libraries, schools, and post offices.
- Neighborhood or block parties;
- Potluck outdoor cookouts, barbecues, and picnics
- Presentations of community service awards.
- Rodeos
- The distribution of Juneteenth buttons, t-shirts, mugs, and bags.
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The existence of Juneteenth is a sign that we have to fight for our rights and our freedom because we own those rights, we deserve it. Freedom must be upheld by everyone to everyone. Slavery is a colonization of humanity that must be abolished and must not be repeated as well as racism and other related matters. Throw away hatred, vengeance. Everyone deserves their rights, and freedom is one of those human rights.
Originally published at http://aboveeidea.home.blog on June 26, 2020.
