Juneteenth: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Juneteenth (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Juneteenth is observed on June 19th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Juneteenth, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as intriguing facts you might want to know about Juneteenth.

📅 What day is Juneteenth 2024?

In 2024, Juneteenth is on Monday, June 19th. It is the 3rd Monday in June; in 2024, it is Wednesday. There are until the next observance. You also can view all the fun details and facts about June 19, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Juneteenth is a special holiday observed on June 19th to honor the end of slavery in the United States. The name itself is derived from combining the words ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth.’ This significant day marks the arrival of Major General Gordon Granger in Texas over 155 years ago, where he informed enslaved individuals that they were finally free and that slavery had been abolished.

📜 Juneteenth History

Juneteenth is a significant day that has been observed for over 155 years to commemorate the emancipation of African Americans from slavery in America. It is celebrated on June 19th each year because on this day in 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the Union Army arrived in Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and the freedom of all slaves.

President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring the abolition of slavery. However, it took two years for the news to reach Texas, where more than 250,000 slaves were unaware of their freedom. General Granger officially proclaimed General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, informing the people that all slaves were free.

There are different theories as to why it took so long for the news to reach Texas. Some believe that the messenger carrying the information was killed during the journey. Others suggest that slave owners deliberately suppressed the news to maintain control over their labor force. Additionally, Texas was still a Confederate state until 1865, so Lincoln’s proclamation could only be enforced after the Union Army took control.

Regardless of the delay, Granger’s arrival brought immense joy and celebration. Former slave Felix Haywood described the first Juneteenth celebration in 1865 as a moment of pure liberation and excitement. The news of freedom ignited widespread jubilation among African Americans.

✅ Juneteenth Facts

🔖 Rosa Parks
Parks’ refusal to surrender her seat on a public bus had a profound impact on the African American community in the southern United States. Her subsequent arrest in December 1955 played a significant role in sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

🔖 Mildred Loving
Loving, along with her husband Richard, faced imprisonment in 1958 due to unlawful cohabitation in Virginia, where interracial marriage was illegal. However, their case was brought before the Supreme Court in 1967, and the verdict was unanimously in their favor.

🔖 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who is widely recognized as a prominent figure in the civil rights movement, gave his famous “I Have a Dream” speech in August 1963. However, his assassination in 1968 served as a stark reminder that there was still much progress to be made within the movement.

👍 Why Is Juneteenth Important

Recognizing our past helps us realize what we, as a society, must do to progress. We must fight for African-American kids’ equal access to education, free expression, and non-discrimination in all aspects of life.

Most of us can’t imagine living in such a world. Thirty months after Lincoln’s declaration, Texas “freed” their slaves in 1865. Even now, the United States faces racial prejudice.

In 1980, Texas became the first state to declare Juneteenth an official holiday. Today is a “partial staffing” holiday in Texas, which means that government offices are not closed but agencies may operate with fewer employees.

🙂 How To Observe Juneteenth

⚡ Watch a movie about slavery

⚡ Fly the Juneteenth flag
The Juneteenth banner, designed with the colors of the American flag, symbolizes the rightful American identity of slaves and their descendants. It features a star in the middle to represent Texas, and a larger star on the outside to signify the newfound freedom and the inclusion of new individuals.

⚡ Attend a Juneteenth celebration
“12 Years a Slave,” “Glory,” “Amistad,” and “Django Unchained” are recent releases.

📅 When is Juneteenth?

Discover all 🔗 June holidays, including 🔗 Federal and other 🔗 American holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and fun facts about Juneteenth. So be sure to check back soon.