Juneteenth

Friday, June 19, 2020

Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Cel-Liberation Day, Emancipation Day

Emancipation of the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy and should be observed as exploration and celebration of African American history and heritage.

It is estimated that 250,000 enslaved Africans in Texas did not know they were free after the American Civil War.

In the late 1970's the Texas Legislature declared Juneteenth a "holiday of significance, particularly to the blacks of Texas. It was the first state of establish Juneteenth as a state holiday under legislation introduced by freshman Democratic state representative Al Edwards. The law passed through the Texas Legislature in 1970 and was officially made a state holiday on January 1, 1980.

In 1996 the first legislation to recognize "Juneteeth Independence Day" was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.J. Res. 195, sponsored by Barbara-Rose Collins (D-MI).

States that still have no recognition: Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota

In 2020 Google Calendar added Juneteeth to its Us Holidays calendar.

Traditions include public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing traditional songs such as "Swing Law, Sweet Chariot" and "Lift Every Voice and Sing", and reading of works by noted African-American writers such a Ralph Ellison and Maya Angelou. Strawberry soda is a traditional drink associated with the celebration. Soul food and other food with African-American influences.

juneteeth.com