Juneteenth

Commemorating Juneteenth

Did you know that Juneteenth is a federal holiday to celebrate the freedom of African-American slaves in Texas...?

:Let's dive back in time!

June 19, 1865

• The word 'Juneteenth' is abbreviated version of June & Nineteenth.
• Juneteenth is also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Black Independence Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, Juneteenth National Independence Day
• It is basically the '4^th of July' for African Americans.
• A preliminary proclamation to abolish slavery was issued and signed by Abraham Lincoln in September 1862 and effective January 1, 1863.
• This proclamation was unknown by Texas; it was the last state to free slaves.
• The slaves were lonely and homesick because they were forced to leave their country, their homes, and in most cases, their families behind.  During their journey to the America, they were malnourished, weak, and sick, some did not make it. 
• Upon their arrival to America, these people were sold as slaves.  They were beaten and humiliated, forced to work for free and without rights. 
•  Mexico was against slavery, thus some of the slaves fled to Mexico and lived comfortably there, some became rich.  Texas treated its slaves better than other states so that they would desist from escaping to the neighboring country. 
•  TX first state to recognize “Emancipation Day” as an official holiday
• On June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 was issued informing Texas slaves of their freedom.  Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX to read/announce the President Lincoln’s proclamation to 200,000 slaves, granting them their freedom.
• As soon as slaves knew of their freedom, most left their owners and began a new life.  A lot of them joyfully started dancing, singing, barbecuing, and doing fun things that were prohibited to them as slaves.
• Since that day, for decades, people in El Paso, across Texas, and through the US, celebrate with parades, pageants, festivals, music, free food, craft booths, free entertainment, dance, breakfasts, traditional barbecues, festivals, and even fireworks.  Multiple organizations and clubs, including the McCall Neighborhood Center, InterClub Council of El Paso, UTEP’s African American Studies Program, coordinate and sponsor the festivities.   

Shown below is a photograph of a Douglas School in a parade and past newspaper clippings from El Paso Times with images and articles of previous El Pasoans' Juneteenth festivities.  

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