This content was first distributed to the Pomona College community on Friday, June 19, 2020.
Friday, June 19, 2020 marked the 155th commemoration of Juneteenth, a celebration of the liberation of enslaved people in the United States.
“Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.”
General Granger brought with him General Order Number 3 which was read aloud by his men throughout the city of Galveston. The Order began:
"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."
African Americans celebrated Emancipation Days across the former Confederacy, often with elaborate memorials for Black Union veterans, family reunions, music and religious services. The celebration of Juneteenth began in Texas but it gained national popularity during the Civil Rights Era.
In 2003, the Governor of California proclaimed the third Saturday in June to be known as “’Juneteenth National Freedom Day: a day of observance,’ to urge all Californians in celebrating this day to honor and reflect on the significant roles that African-Americans have played in the history of the United States and how African-Americans have enriched society through their steadfast commitment to promoting freedom, brotherhood, and equality.”
This short video from The Washington Post (2019) provides a brief history of the origin of Juneteenth and its significance today. This Juneteenth cartoon (2016) offers a simplified version of the history that may be shared with younger children who want to learn about the holiday. More information on Juneteenth celebration events, as well as suggestions for further action, can be found at Facebook (Juneteenth Los Angeles), Los Angeles Daily News and HellaJuneteenth.