What Is Juneteenth?

By Corrie Lyndes, AmeriCorps VISTA

Juneteenth (short for June nineteenth) is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.

In 1863, slavery was outlawed in ten states under the Emancipation Proclamation, including Texas. However, it took over two years for the enslaved people of Texas to learn of the news. Due to the Civil War, there was a low presence of Union troops to enforce the proclamation. Spreading the word was a slow and difficult process during this time, and plantation owners suppressed the news and continued to enslave free people.

(Source: Galveston Convention & Visitors Bureau)

This was until June 19, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston and ordered the freedom of over 250,000 enslaved people in the state of Texas. The following year, on June 19, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place. The celebrations included prayer meetings, singing of spirituals, and eating and drinking red foods and beverages to symbolize the blood shed by slaves. Now, strawberry soda is the traditional drink for the holiday, and there are lots of great recipes!

In 1979, Texas became the first state to declare Juneteenth a holiday, and a symbolic flag was created in 1997. Celebrations continued to grow, and it became an official federal U.S. holiday in June of 2021. While Juneteenth commemorates the day of freedom from slavery, it also serves to remind us that the fight for racial equality and justice isn’t yet over. This holiday is an opportunity to talk to your peers and children about the history of slavery, how far we have come, and how far we still have to go.

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country with parades, speeches, picnic barbecues, music, and more! Our very own St. Albans is hosting a Juneteenth and Pride parade on Sunday, June 19th, from 2-6pm!