AAHFM

African American Heritage Foundation of Maui

What Is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth — June 19, 1865, is considered to be the date the last slaves in America were freed.

The Civil War had ended with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865.  Although the rumors of freedom were widespread even prior to this time, actual emancipation did not come to Texas until Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston with 2000 federal troops and issued General Orders No. 3 on June 19th to enforce the release of at least 250,000 enslaved African Americans.

This was almost two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln had signed the

Emancipation Proclamation.

 

Didn’t the Emancipation Proclamation free American slaves?

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 2, 1862, notifying the states in rebellion against the Union that, if they did not cease their rebellion and return to the Union by January 1, 1863, he would declare their slaves forever free.  NOTE: this Proclamation did not apply to those slaveholding states that had not rebelled against the Union.  As a result, about 800,000 black men, women and children were still legally enslaved regardless of the Emancipation Proclamation.  And of course, this Proclamation was ignored by those states that rebelled against the Union.

It took the Civil War to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and it took the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to formally outlaw ALL slavery in America.  The 13th Amendment was ratified by December 1865 by 27 of the then 36 American states (this was the three-quarter majority of states needed for a proposal to become law for the entire nation).  However, of the nine remaining states in existence at that time,  Mississippi was the last to formally accept it.  This was done in 1995!

 

Why were the slaves in Texas the last to know that they were free?

During the Civil War, Texas did not experience any major battles with Union forces.  Although the Union army made several attempts to invade Texas, they were held off by Confederate troops.  As a result, slavery in Texas continued to thrive.  In fact, because slavery in Texas was mostly unaffected by the War, many slave owners from other states brought their slaves to Texas to keep them from learning that they were free.  

 

Why is Juneteenth celebrated?

It symbolizes the end of legalized slavery in America.  Juneteenth has come to symbolize for many African Americans what the Fourth of July symbolizes for all Americans — FREEDOM!

 

Why not just celebrate the Fourth of July like other Americans?

African Americans do celebrate July 4th in honor of American Independence.  But history reminds us that African Americans were still enslaved when the United States declared its freedom in 1776.

 

When is Juneteenth celebrated?

Juneteenth is observed on or near June 19th every year in more than 200 places in the United States.  Juneteenth is now a state holiday in 14 states including Texas, California, and Alaska.  Some cities sponsor week-long celebrations, while other places hold smaller events to remember this important time in history.

 

 

 

The African American Heritage Foundation of Maui

Invites You To Our Cultural Celebration of

— Juneteenth —

{Information Sources:  Juneteenth by Charles A. Taylor & Wikipedia}