Today may feel like just another Tuesday, but it is actually a day of celebration for many. Just check your iPhone—Apple recently expanded the holidays noted on its U.S. calendar—you’ll find that today is Juneteenth. For many, Juneteenth is a day of American patriotism, celebrated with barbecues and baseball games, parades and parties, rodeos and reunions, much like the Fourth of July. Confused? Read on to find out why some refer to Juneteenth as the Black Fourth of July or America’s second Independence Day.
The key fact is that July 4, 1776, symbolizes the day when white Americans became free. Enslaved black Americans did not. Many of us, myself included, forget this on Independence Day. But, it wasn’t until almost 100 years later that the Emancipation Proclamation eliminated slavery, and more than two years after that when the end of slavery was actually communicated to all who were enslaved. For that reason, Independence Day has always been a poorly and ironically named holiday. Abolitionist (and formerly enslaved American) Frederick Douglass made this point on Independence Day, 1852: “What, to the American slave, is your Fourth of July? I answer: a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is constant victim.”
That is a pretty massive asterisk on a day we equate with liberty and freedom. Independence Day might be more accurately thought of as Independence Day*, where the asterisk signals a “certain terms and conditions may apply” caveat to the celebration of independence.
This brings us to Juneteenth, also known as June 19. Juneteenth started in Texas in 1865 when 250,000 enslaved people were liberated (note the delay - the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863). Historians debate which is the right date to commemorate the end of slavery; in fact, some African-Americans worship in Watch Night church services on New Year’s Eve. Unpacking all of the historical details is complicated; it’s a bit of a long story. But culturally speaking, June 19 has taken on the symbolic meaning of the day when the land of the free became less of a false narrative.
If you have not heard of Juneteenth, you are not alone. Statistics about how many Americans know about Juneteenth are hard to come by but I did a non-scientific poll of friends and acquaintances across the country and three patterns emerged. If you are of any race and have lived in Texas, or if you are African-American living anywhere in the United States, or if you caught the Juneteenth episodes of the hit TV shows Atlanta in 2018 or Black-ish in 2017, the odds seem higher that you know about Juneteenth. Some people told me they attended Juneteenth celebrations every year. Others told me that they look forward to seeing joyous photos and jubilant videos from Juneteenth celebrations throughout the United States, even if they did not attend them in person. Many reported that social media has made the day and its celebrations more visible.
Still, some who had not heard of Juneteenth seemed genuinely surprised to hear it was a thing and until a few years ago, I was in this group. But once you start to read a bit, it becomes clear that this is not a new or made-up or greeting card holiday. Apple did not go rogue with their calendar. Juneteenth is officially recognized or observed in at least 45 states plus the District of Columbia. It is a known and meaningful day to many Americans, which brings up the question of why it is not a known and meaningful day to all Americans.
Our awareness gap may be reflective of a more significant issue. Historiographer James Loewen—who studies how we study history—spent two years at the Smithsonian studying American history textbooks. He found that they tend to present slavery as if it was an external event, like a natural disaster. “Somehow we ended up with four million slaves in America but no owners,” he writes in Lies My Teacher Told Me. Bestselling author Ta-Nehisi Coates writes of “patriotism a la carte” in which we celebrate the veteran and forget the slave owner. Writer Vann R. Newkirk II speaks of the “dizzying contradiction” that is America and the “belated liberation” Juneteenth celebrates. He says “Juneteenth is the purest distillation of the evils that still plague America, and a celebration of the good people who fought those evils. It is tragedy and comedy, hope and setbacks.” Celebrating July 4, but dismissing June 19, sells America short.
If we remember only July 4, we not only misremember the past, we misunderstand the present. Most of us are in organizations actively engaged in diversity and inclusion efforts. Many of us are navigating a complicated racial landscape in our country. These efforts are in vain in a historical or cultural vacuum. We see only symptoms – the persistent and potentially deadly cough – but fail to diagnose what led to that cough. Without the right diagnosis, we only treat symptoms. We put in the training program and fight the class action suit, but our underlying illness remains. Most of us want to go beyond the symptoms and there are ways to do this.
Today is Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth Independence Day or Freedom Day, which commemorates the emancipation from slavery in the United States. In honor of the day, and the critical turning point it represents, we rounded up six facts:
CLOSE It may not be a national holiday, but Juneteeth marks a major milestone for America USA TODAY
A group celebrates Juneteenth. (Photo: David Paul Morris / Getty Images)
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Across the country, the day is marked with events and parades.
"As a Nation, we vow to never forget the millions of African-Americans who suffered the evils of slavery," President Donald Trump said in a statement Tuesday recognizing the holiday. "Together, we honor the unbreakable spirit and countless contributions of generations of African Americans to the story of American greatness. Today we recommit ourselves to defending the self-evident truth, boldly declared by our Founding Fathers, that all people are created equal."
Here's everything you need to know about Juneteenth:
What is Juneteenth?
On June 19, 1865, Major Gen. Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas, to inform a reluctant community that President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier had freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive.
Why did it take so long for the news to get to Texas?
There is no one reason why there was a two and a half year delay in letting Texas know about the abolition of slavery in the United States, according to Juneteenth.com. The historical site said some accounts place the delay on a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news, while others say the news was deliberately withheld.
Despite the delay, slavery did not end in Texas overnight, according to an article by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. originally posted on The Root. Gates said after New Orleans fell, many slavers traveled to Texas with their slaves to escape regulations enforced by the Union Army in other states.
The slave owners were placed with the responsibility of letting their slaves know about the news, and some delayed relaying the information until after the harvest, Gates said.
Where does the name "Juneteenth" come from?
Juneteenth, which is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," in honor of the day that Granger announced the abolition of slavery in Texas.
How do people celebrate?
On social media, many shared photos and videos of their local Juneteenth celebrations.
Warming up to go live on #News4 at 6am for #Juneteenth2018 . Let’s get ready for the Strike Force Drum 🥁 Line @pgparkshttps://t.co/mlUf8D4fuPpic.twitter.com/V5PFkTn4Ie — Molette Green (@MoletteGreen) June 19, 2018
#Juneteenth Parade festivities are beginning on South State St. from Dunbar Center! Cheer on the many organizations and smiling faces from all over our City and Region. #Juneteenth2018#SyracuseJuneteenthpic.twitter.com/fQEFEhVACy — City of Syracuse (@Syracuse1848) June 16, 2018
Others called for Juneteenth — which some see as a second Independence Day — to be named a national holiday.
The end of slavery should be a national holiday with celebrations on par with July 4th. Why isn't it? #Juneteenth2018pic.twitter.com/tOsP8KUz9E — LaneBrooks (@lanebrooks) June 19, 2018
Many use the holiday to call attention to modern racial inequality.
Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation from slavery in the US, but the fight for racial and economic justice continues. Celebrate freedom! Yet, may we all continue the work to liberate all who are oppressed. #Juneteenth2018 — Juliana Stratton (@RepStratton5) June 19, 2018
Happy Juneteenth ✊🏾 The day the last of the slaves were freed . Although slavery ended & turned into mass incarceration. Keep fighting for justice & celebrate your freedom. #Juneteenth2018pic.twitter.com/wwS5kor11U — Ayesha 🌻👑 (@Prettie_Dope) June 19, 2018
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Stefanie Herweck stands with other protesters in front of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Rio Grande Valley Sector's Centralized Processing Center. (Photo: Joel Martinez, AP)
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Chinese state media says that the once-reclusive North Korean leader will make a two-day state visit to Beijing starting Tuesday. The reported trip, which would be Kim Jong Un's third in recent months to China, follows the groundbreaking summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore last week that resulted in a surprise announcement of a U.S. suspension of military drills with its South Korean ally. It's unclear if Kim may be seeking leverage with China in the ongoing economic tug-of-war with the U.S., which was escalated Monday after Trump threatened to slap new tariffs on $200 billion in Chinese goods.
The rich keep getting richer
The world’s wealthiest individuals can thank an improving global economy and a strong stock market performance in 2017 for the boost in their collective wealth. The global consulting firm Capgemini’s World Wealth Report 2018 released Tuesday found that the combined wealth of the world’s millionaires rose for a sixth straight year and topped $70 trillion for the first time ever. And the ultra-wealthy segment of the world’s richest, of course, posted the largest gains. The U.S. led the pack with 5.3 million high net worth individuals, followed by Japan, Germany and China.
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A pair of World Cup dark horses were victorious Monday. While Belgium steamrolled Panama, England pulled off a dramatic victory over Tunisia. Another tournament darling — Colombia — takes to the pitch Tuesday against Japan (8 a.m. ET). Colombia's Radamel Falcao will play after he missed the 2014 World Cup, though the team's breakout star that year — James Rodriguez — might not due to injury. Poland and Senegal (11 a.m. ET) will be the final teams to get their World Cup started. The day's capper is host Russia taking on Egypt (2 p.m. ET), which might have its star — Mohamed Salah — make his World Cup debut.
Let freedom ring! Today is Juneteenth
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, will be marked in many communities on Tuesday. (Others celebrated over the weekend.) The holiday originated on June 19, 1865, when Union Army Major Gen. Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas, to inform a reluctant community that President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier had freed the slaves. The name Juneteenth is a merging of "June" and "nineteenth." Events include parades, picnics and celebrations of African-American heritage.
CLOSE It may not be a national holiday, but Juneteeth marks a major milestone for America USA TODAY
Contributing: Associated Press
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