What is Juneteenth?
The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 and was the proclamation intended to end slavery in the US. This executive order changed the legal status of 3.5 million enslaved African Americans in the confederate states from enslaved to “free”. Sadly, slavery would not end until two and a half years later on June 19, 1865, marking the day that U.S. General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived on Texas soil proclaiming “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free”. Juneteenth is celebrated on the anniversary of those federal troops arriving in Galveston, Texas to ensure the freedom of enslaved people. Juneteenth is a holiday, recognized annually in the United States on June 19th, that celebrates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and is derived from the combination of “June” and “Nineteenth”. It is often celebrated on the third Saturday of June and is considered the longest running African American holiday, dating back to the first celebration on June 19, 1866.
Who participates?
Juneteenth is a multicultural holiday celebrated nationally by all who wish to honor and celebrate. Juneteenth has even been called “America’s second Independence Day”. Juneteenth is observed to commemorate African American history, culture, and progress. Texas was the first state to recognize the date by enacting law in 1980. 8 states followed suit 22 years later, then 15 more states by 2006. Just over half of the states in the US recognized the holiday by 2008 and by 2019, 47 states and the District of Columbia recognized Juneteenth. This holiday has become federally recognized in the United States and the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was effective June 17, 2021.
What now?
While slavery is now over in the US, the systemic setbacks from that stain in our history live on. Slavery has impacted African American families, leaving them with intergenerational damage and trauma caused by “centuries” of prejudice, oppression, and poor economic circumstances. Historically, African Americans experience much higher rates of poor health, poverty, unemployment, poor education, etc., compared to white counterparts. Many African Americans had little to nothing when they were freed, and the 40 acres and a mule promised was overturned after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination. African Americans were eventually forced into inner-city “ghettos” with overcrowding, unfit living conditions, and schools with inadequate resources to compete with their counterparts that already had a leg up in the race that we call life. These ghettos were and are plagued with people experiencing racism, poverty, and economic disparity. This is all a tough part of our history… but it is our history as a nation, and African Americans still live with the effects of this prejudice, unequal treatment, and economic marginalization. We still have a long way to go as a country, but the celebration that we now know nationally as Juneteenth is a start.
As part of our Spiritual Action at Unity, “We feel a sacred responsibility, individually and collectively, to make a positive difference through personal example and active service in our churches, our communities, and our world.” Please join in celebrating Juneteenth, as it is a celebration of freedom. You can even celebrate by simply being love and light to those that cross your path, no matter the religion, race, gender, etc. Be positive energy in the world. We are but one race, the human race. The essence of us all is divine and we can exercise our good to be inclusive, helpful, and loving!
