Juneteenth celebration in Austin, Texas on 19 June 1900

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday or holiday observance in 26 states of the United States. Celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas; for more than a century, the state of Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations. However, one small community in Arkansas (Wilmar) boasts that its celebration, called "June Dinner" has been consistently observed and celebrated, except for one year, since approximately 1870. Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. It is considered a "partial staffing holiday" meaning that state offices do not close but some employees will be using a floating holiday to take the day off.^[1] Twelve other states list it as an official holiday, including Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Alaska . In California, Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed June 19th "Juneteenth" on June 19, 2005. ^{[2] [3]} However, some of these states, such as Connecticut, do not consider it a legal holiday and do not close government offices in observance of the occasion.^[4] Its informal observance has spread to some other states, with a few celebrations even taking place in other countries.^{[5] [3]} Juneteenth may refer to: Juneteenth, an annual holiday celebrated on June 19 in the United States to commemorate the ending of slavery Juneteenth (novel), a novel by African American writer Ralph Ellison This is a disambiguation page—a list of articles associated with the same title. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Emancipation_Day_celebration_-_1900-06-19. ... Image File history File links Emancipation_Day_celebration_-_1900-06-19. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Äž: For the film, see: 1900 (film). ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Slave redirects here. ... Galveston redirects here. ... For other uses, see Texas (disambiguation). ... Wilmar is a city located in Drew County, Arkansas. ... This article is about the U.S. State. ... This article is about the state. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) none (de facto English) Demonym Connecticuter or Connecticutian[2] Capital Hartford Largest city Bridgeport[3] Largest metro area Hartford Metro Area[4] Area  Ranked 48th in the US  - Total 5,543[5] sq mi (14,356 km²)  - Width 70 miles (113 km)  - Length 110 miles (177 km... For other uses, see Alaska (disambiguation). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German IPA: ; born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, Golden Globe-winning actor, businessman and politician currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... In the United States, a holiday is a day set aside by a nation or culture (in some cases, multiple nations and cultures) typically for celebration but sometimes for some other kind of special culture-wide (or national) observation or activity. ...

As of June 2008, 29 states^[6] have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or state holiday observance; these include Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, Massachusetts, Vermont and North Carolina, as well as the District of Columbia.

History

Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued on September 22, 1862, with an effective date of January 1, 1863, it had little immediate effect on most slaves’ day-to-day lives, particularly in Texas, which was almost entirely under Confederate control. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived on Galveston Island to take possession of the state and enforce the emancipation of its slaves. Legend has it while standing on the balcony of Galveston’s Ashton Villa, Granger read the contents of “General Order No. 3” Wikisource has original text related to this article: Emancipation Proclamation Reproduction of the Emancipation Proclamation at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio The Emancipation Proclamation consists of two executive orders issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War. ... is the 265th day of the year (266th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about 1862 . ... is the 1st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1863 (MDCCCLXIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God, Our Vindicator) Anthem (none official) God Save the South (unofficial) The Bonnie Blue Flag (unofficial) Dixie (unofficial)  States that seceded under CSA control  States and territories claimed by CSA without formal secession and/or control Capital Montgomery, Alabama (until May 29, 1861) Richmond, Virginia... is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1865 (MDCCLXV) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The 21st Michigan Infantry, a company of Shermans veterans. ... Gordon Granger (November 6, 1822 – January 10, 1876) was a Union Major General during American Civil War. ... A map of Galveston Island, a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States Galveston Island is a barrier island on the Texas Gulf coast in the United States, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) south of Houston. ...

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.^[7]

That day has since become known as Juneteenth, a name derived from a portmanteau of the words June and nineteenth. A portmanteau (IPA: ) is a word or morpheme that fuses two or more words or word parts to give a combined or loaded meaning. ... For other uses, see June (disambiguation). ... 19 (nineteen) is the natural number following 18 and preceding 20. ...

Former slaves in Galveston rejoiced in the streets with jubilant celebrations. Juneteenth celebrations began in Texas the following year.^[7] Across many parts of Texas, freed people pooled their funds to purchase land specifically for their communities’ increasingly large Juneteenth gatherings—including Houston’s Emancipation Park, Mexia’s Booker T. Washington Park, and Emancipation Park in Austin.^[7] Juneteenth celebrations include a wide range of festivities, such as parades, street fairs, cookouts, or park parties and include such things as music and dancing or even contests of physical strength and intellect. Baseball and other popular American games may also be played. Houston redirects here. ... Mexia (pronounced muh-HAY-uh or muh-HAIR) is a city in Limestone County, Texas, United States. ... Austin is the capital of the U.S. state of Texas and the seat of Travis County. ...

Juneteenth is mentioned in the writings of Sojourner Truth as a day when the slaves of New York State could celebrate one day of freedom. She reports in her writings that the parties and celebrations were such that she even considered giving up her freedom to be able to take part. This can be found in "The diary of Sojourner Truth".

In literature

Ralph Ellison's second novel Juneteenth deals with this holiday and its traditions. Juneteenth was published posthumously, from a manuscript which required heavy editing (and paring) after Ellison's death. Ralph Ellison (March 1, 1913[1] – April 16, 1994) was a scholar and writer. ... Juneteenth is the title of African American writer Ralph Ellisons second novel (ISBN 0-394-46457-5), published posthumously as a 368-page condensation of over 2000 pages written by him over a period of forty years. ...

Carolyn Meyer's novel Jubilee Journey is the story of one young biracial girl celebrating Juneteenth with her relatives in Texas, while also learning to be proud of her African American heritage. Carolyn Meyer (b. ...

Ann Rinaldi's historical novel Come Juneteenth is the story of how Juneteenth came to be, and follows the life of the daughter of a young white plantation-owner's daughter in Texas during the Civil War whose family faces tragedy after their mulatto half-sister runs away when learning they lied to her about being free. Ann Rinaldi (b. ...

Traditions

Juneteenth is traditionally celebrated with a large feast served as an all day meal in a park or outdoor space. The traditional dishes of Juneteenth are served pot luck and usually include portions of barbecue, cakes, and pies. A barbecue on a trailer at a block party in Kansas City. ...

See also

African American Portal

• History of slavery in the United States
• Emancipation Day
• African American

Image File history File links AmericaAfrica. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Emancipation Day is celebrated in various locations in observation generally of the emancipation of slaves. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Juneteenth

• Juneteenth World Wide Celebration
• 19th of June
• Juneteenth from the Handbook of Texas Online
• Texas State Library’s Juneteenth page
• Dallas’ annual Juneteenth film festival
• Festival for Charlotte, NC and surrounding area
• Juneteenth America, Inc.--California Juneteenth
• Rappahannock Regional Juneteenth Celebration
• National Juneteenth Observance Foundation
• Juneteenth New Jersey Celebration
• Juneteenth Maryland Celebration
• Pennsylvania Juneteenth Coalition
• Massachusetts to 'recognize' Juneteenth Boston Globe