What is Juneteenth and Why is it a Holiday?

While July 4, 1776 marked the nation’s first Independence Day, it wasn’t until almost a century later, on June 19, 1865, that the United States could truly be considered a free country. Since then, June 19 — or Juneteenth, for short — has commemorated the end of slavery in the U.S. and freedom for citizens of all races.

What Does June 19 Celebrate?

Juneteenth celebrates a second Independence Day in the U.S., according to the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC). It’s a holiday commemorating the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of Black Americans, according to "A Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance" by The White House.

Fannie Lou Hamer, an influential civil rights activist, once said, "Nobody’s free until everybody’s free."

For citizens who share Hamer's belief, Juneteenth celebrates Freedom Day, also sometimes called Emancipation Day, as noted by the National Archives.

The History of Juneteenth

On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all people being held as slaves would henceforth be free. Two years later, on Jan. 31, 1865, the 13th Amendment was passed by Congress. But it wasn't until that summer, on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, with news of freedom, according to the NMAAHC.

Dr. Kendra Thomas, assistant vice president of People Experience and Inclusion at SNHU, as well as a belonging and joy practitioner, said she first learned of Juneteenth and its history when she was 16 years old.

“I went to a Juneteenth festival and learned that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, did not learn of their freedom until two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective,” she said.

The Emancipation Proclamation was largely symbolic, however, and didn’t truly mark the end of slavery.

While Juneteenth is ultimately celebrated as the start of emancipation, there were people in the U.S. who remained enslaved beyond June 19, 1865, as well.

Misconceptions About Juneteenth

Although Juneteenth marks Emancipation Day, slavery persisted in Delaware and Kentucky, both of which lacked state laws abolishing the institution of slavery. It wasn't until the 13th Amendment was ratified on Dec. 6, 1865 — six months after Union troops reached Galveston, Texas, on Juneteenth — that emancipation took effect in these states.

There were also individuals enslaved in New Jersey after Juneteenth, according to the New Jersey Historical Commission — slavery was finally abolished in the state on January 23, 1866, after New Jersey had initially refused to codify the 13th amendment.

“I think a common misconception about Juneteenth is that that was the end of the story,” said Tiffany Flowers, an academic advisor at SNHU and a former officer for the employee resource group BLAZE (Black Leaders Aspiring to Zealously Elevate).

Flowers also pointed out the phrasing of the 13th Amendment: “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States,” said President Abraham Lincoln.

According to Flowers, this caveat led to exploitative policing and new laws that kept the practice of slavery alive, with effects that can still be seen and felt today.

“For Black people, I think it's going to be something that goes on for a long time until we can get equal treatment in the justice system,” Flowers said. “It's still going to be a fight, but in the midst of that, we still can have joy. We still can have time to celebrate.”

Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?

Juneteenth is now a federal holiday that celebrates one of the most significant events in U.S. history — the end of the Civil War and the emancipation of Black Americans, according to The White House's proclamation.

Yet despite its importance, Juneteenth was only made a federal holiday a few years ago, in 2021.

What Took So Long?

The celebration of Juneteenth has ebbed and flowed over the years, and the holiday hasn’t always been as well-known as it is today. In fact, Flowers said she only learned about the holiday a few years ago, around the time when the federal holiday was made official.

“Juneteenth is a new thing even to me. I grew up in Alabama, and I wasn't taught a lot about Juneteenth,” Flowers said. “But as I got older and when it got signed into law, I started making myself more aware.”

Flowers credited Opal Lee — who is often called the grandmother of Juneteenth, according to PBS — with campaigning and advocating for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday.

Thomas also acknowledged another reason Juneteenth took so long to become a holiday: It all comes down to who holds and has held the power.

“I cannot speak for the mindset of those who willingly took freedoms away from others that continue to cause harm to so many today,” Thomas said.

Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth has been commemorated in various ways over the years, including parades, picnics and festivals, the Library of Congress reports.

Flowers likes to support Black businesses on and around Juneteenth — although she said this extends outside of the holiday, as well.

“I think it's really important to try to circulate those dollars,” she said. “And it gives me a chance to find new favorite things.”

Flowers also enjoys volunteering on Juneteenth, and setting aside time for rest and self-care.

“I think we're so focused on working and doing things and trying to put our bodies in the action that we don't recognize that one of the great things about Juneteenth was maybe people got a chance to get some rest that they hadn't had," she said.

In addition to being a day of celebration, Juneteenth is also a day of reflection for many. For Thomas and her household, it's a day of remembrance and recognition. “It is the joy of knowing that we can do so much as a people, while also reflecting on the sorrows that being enslaved caused,” she said.

Mars Girolimon '21 '23G is a staff writer at Southern New Hampshire University where they earned their bachelor’s and master’s, both in English and creative writing. In addition to their work in higher education, Girolimon’s short fiction is published in the North American Review, So It Goes by The Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library, X-R-A-Y and more. Connect with them on LinkedIn.