Written By: Tosin Ajogbeje/Date:2021-06-19
There has been a great deal of discussion surrounding the date of June 19. This significant date is Juneteenth. President Biden recently signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which establishes a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the US. During the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people in the rebellious states to be free. Symbolic to the African American community, Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. After President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, news later got to Texas that the war had ended. More than two years would pass, and then Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with the news that the enslaved were now free.
This served as a remarkable time in history with people celebrating with prayer, feasting, dance and song. June 19 finally marked the first official Juneteenth celebrations in Texas. Over the years, African Americans in other states began to celebrate the day as well, making it an established practice. Today, African Americans celebrate the day in several ways through religious services, speeches, educational events, gatherings, festivals and music.
People outside the United States also celebrate the day, including organizations in a number of countries. Of course, the ending of slavery did not fully wipe out racism. Even with the Jim Crow laws and racial segregation in place, and calling for the separation of black people from the white society, racism still persists. It is evident that racial inequality and injustice is still present in today’s world, including nationwide anti-racism protests heightened in various countries.
Freedom, empowerment, and appreciation for all is what we want. Juneteenth is a reminder of how liberation has been deferred due to continuous opposition and inequality. However, it is also a reminder of how much history we have and how much work we need to do in making the world a better and fair place for all.
References
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57515192
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