Juneteenth: An Old Tradition, a New Legal Holiday
With a tweet, Governor Jay Inslee announced big news on May 13th — Washington State is making Juneteenth a legal holiday. Legislation passed during the 2021 legislative session states, “The legislature encourages that this be a day to engage in fellowship with Black/African Americans; revisit our solidarity and commitment to antiracism; educate ourselves about slave history; and continue having conversations that uplift every Washingtonian.” While the holiday is old, awareness and recognition of the day by many Americans is relatively new.
Historical Significance of Juneteenth
June 19th is a day set aside to commemorate the end of slavery. The celebration originated when two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued and two months after General Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Union Soldiers brought the news of emancipation to Texas. Annual celebrations began the following year in 1866 and today it is traditionally observed in the African American community with family and community celebrations such as parades, concerts, and public gatherings in parks. The National Museum of African American History and Culture provides a thorough background on the history of Juneteenth on their Celebration of Resilience page.
In 2020 Black Americans didn’t find much to celebrate, as Juneteenth came on the heels of the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor killings at the hands of police. Today, the Black community is still fighting for equal footing in health care, housing, education, and more. A New York Times article, This Is How We Juneteenth, updated in June 2021, quotes artist, chef, and author Lazarus Lynch who says he finds it difficult to celebrate “[u]ntil corporate leadership looks different, until there are actual policies that are created in this country to protect the marginalized and that uplift the marginalized voices.” The lasting impact of slavery, reconstruction, and black codes is reflected in disparities such as unequal treatment of Blacks by law enforcement and higher maternal death rates among Black mothers.
2021 Washington Legislation
A law designating Juneteenth as a Washington legal holiday was signed on May 13, 2021 by Governor Inslee after the state legislature passed Substitute House Bill 1016. The law adds “[t]he nineteenth day of June, recognized as Juneteenth, a day of remembrance for the day the African slaves learned of their freedom” to the list of legal holidays found in RCW 1.16.050. The bill provides a succinct summary of the history of Juneteenth and states that “[t]he legislature intends to designate Juneteenth as a state legal holiday to celebrate the end of chattel slavery.”
The Juneteenth legislation was part of a package of policy proposals aimed at eliminating racial disparities in the state. Ahead of the 2021 legislative session the Governor’s Office issued a Policy Brief on the proposals stating, “Observing Juneteenth is one way we can recognize the horrors and brutality of slavery, and somberly reflect that the Declaration of Independence did not grant Black Americans liberty.”
Sponsoring Representative Melanie Morgan made a statement during the bill signing, saying, “I believe it’s another step towards declaring Washington State as an anti-racist state, which leads to reconciliation, healing, and true inclusion. My hope is that Juneteenth will be a holiday celebrated by all Washingtonians, like July 4th, a holiday that brings us together in fellowship.”
The state has recognized Juneteenth as a day of remembrance since the legislature passed House Bill 1870 in 2007. The 2021 legislation establishes the date as a paid holiday for state workers beginning in 2022.
Last Juneteenth all but 3 states recognized or commemorated the day according to the Congressional Research Service. This year North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum signed legislation establishing an annual commemoration of Juneteenth. The Hawai’i legislature passed Juneteenth legislation in 2021 as well. It is waiting to be signed by Governor David Y. Ige. This leaves South Dakota as the sole state without an official Juneteenth state holiday or commemoration.
Celebrations and Events
• The Brennan Center will host How the Word Is Passed: A Conversation with Clint Smith, on June 18 to discuss the hopeful role memory plays in processing our country’s history.
• The Northwest African American Museum is hosting several virtual events beginning on June 13, including a live Jamboree on June 19.
• The Washington State History Museum will honor Juneteenth from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on June 19, and that evening will host a formal gala celebrating the day (gala tickets are required).
• The Juneteenth Foundation is hosting a virtual festival on June 18 and June 19, including a panel discussion and virtual job fair.
• Lynnwood is hosting a virtual or drive-through event to learn more about the history of Juneteenth on June 19. The drive-through is from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM and the online presentation begins at 1:00 PM.
Learn More
• The New York Times Bestseller On Juneteenth by Harvard professor Annette Gordon-Reed, the first African American winner of the Pulitzer Prize for History, was published in May 2021. “Interweaving American history, dramatic family chronicle, and searing episodes of memoir, Annette Gordon-Reed, the descendant of enslaved people brought to Texas in the 1850s, recounts the origins of Juneteenth and explores the legacies of the holiday that remain with us.” Available for curbside checkout. Place a hold here.
• Clint Smith, Harvard educated staff writer for The Atlantic and host of the Crash Course Black American History series, has written a book titled How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America which reflects on the continued impact of slavery on people today. The book includes a chapter on Juneteenth. Available for curbside checkout. Place a hold here.
• The Washington State Law Library’s 2018 Celebrating Juneteenth blog post provides additional history and resources for further research. (WB)
