America’s Celebration of the End of Slavery

Sunday, June 19, marked “Juneteenth,” the anniversary of the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, who carried with them the news that the Civil War was over and that slavery had been abolished by President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation two-and-a-half years earlier.

According to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, 43 states now recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or special day of observance, and the U.S. Senate established June 19 as Juneteenth Independence Day on June 19, 2015. (The states not recognizing Juneteenth in some form are Hawaii, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Hampshire, Arizona and Montana.)

Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865. The soldiers carried with them the news that the Civil War was over and that slavery had been abolished through President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect January 1, 1863.

The annual commemoration of this date, which became known as Juneteenth, quickly became a stabilizing and motivating presence in the lives of the African-Americans who lived in Texas and faced the many uncertainties associated with their newly-acquired freedom. The observance quickly spread from Texas to other black communities across the United States.

Juneteenth is celebrated in many ways, but education and self-improvement have been consistent themes at commemorative community gatherings and picnics. In 1980, Juneteenth was made an official holiday in Texas. Juneteenth had been recognized by President George W. Bush in special presidential messages, but, President Obama has yet to personally acknowledge Juneteenth at the White House.
The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation has repeatedly contacted the Obama White House. On May 19, it sent one of many requests asking that President Obama “issue a Presidential Proclamation to establish Juneteenth Independence Day as a National Day of Observance in America, similar to Flag Day or Patriot Day.”

Rev. Ronald V. Myers, Sr., M.D., Founder and Chairman of the group, has explained the importance of noting Juneteenth accordingly: “America needs healing from the scars of enslavement. The annual observance of Juneteenth in America affords the country a tremendous opportunity to constructively reflect on our legacy of enslavement and move forward as a unified nation. As the leader of our country, your public participation in Juneteenth will be instrumental in bringing all Americans together in a spirit of unity and reconciliation.”

The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation has expressed its frustration with President Obama on the matter of Juneteenth on a web page, noting that then-Senator Barack Obama supported Juneteenth legislation as a Senator, has done nothing as President, despite issuing proclamations for LGBT Pride Month, Cinco de Mayo, Greek Independence Day, National Ovarian Cancer month, Patriot Day and Flag Day, and more. It has repeatedly urged the White House to acknowledge Juneteenth in some form.