Freedom Day for All Americans

If One of Us is Enslaved, We All Are

​Did you know that June 19 was a federal holiday, known as Juneteenth, Freedom Day or Emancipation Day?  I had never heard of it until President Joe Biden recognized it as a federal holiday in 2021. Was this a part of the history lessons you were taught in school? Unfortunately, this did not make it into our history books in Wyoming.

The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was finally recognized and signed into law, after many years of advocacy and steadfast leadership by a trio of incredibly determined ladies.

​Lula Briggs Galloway, Opal Lee, Clara Peoples and many other activists were first acknowledged for these efforts in 1996.  We’ll talk more in a future post about them and their dedication to shining a light on this shameful part of our American history.   

Makenna, 4, dances with the Juneteenth flag during Longmont’s annual Juneteenth Celebration at Roosevelt Park in Longmont on Saturday. (Cliff Grassmick — Staff Photographer)

What is Juneteenth, and why create a federal holiday to recognize it?
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On September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln announced that the Emancipation Proclamation would go into effect on January 1, 1863, promising freedom to enslaved people in all the rebellious parts of Southern states of the Confederacy. Texas was included, but not the federally held territories of Delaware, Maryland, and West Virginia.  

Although the Emancipation Proclamation declared an end to slavery in the Confederate States, it did not end slavery in the states that remained in the Union. For a short while after the fall of the Confederacy, slavery remained legal in two of the Union border states – Delaware and Kentucky. Those slaves were freed with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which abolished chattel slavery nationwide on December 6, 1865. 

In simple terms, while slavery was abolished in 1862, slave owners in a handful of states chose not to comply until more than 2 years later. Juneteenth is the celebration of freedom for those enslaved people. 

Juneteenth is now a federally recognized holiday, observed every year on June 19. How will it be celebrated? People celebrate everywhere, from backyard barbecues and Block parties to big concerts, festivals, and parades. There are marathons, Miss Juneteenth contests, educational programs, commemorative art exhibitions, programs showcasing black culture, readings of the emancipation proclamation, and more. Traditional African foods may be served, frequently with red food and drinks, to symbolize resilience and joy.

My take on this is to celebrate Juneteenth by acknowledging our history, embracing diversity, and actively working towards inclusion and equality for all. In discussions with neighborhood friends this year, we talked about whether it was culturally appropriate to observe this holiday and if it was possible to do so respectfully. My small rural town is predominantly white. In my efforts to educate myself and share my knowledge with my friends, I learned that many others, including African Americans also have mixed emotions about this history.

One comment I read from a person of color was, “I don’t know if I am for celebrating Juneteenth. They told a lie, they hid the lie, and then they told us two years later, and now you tell us to celebrate. Really?”

Another said, “I am going to a cookout and festival that will feature black-owned vendors and small businesses, and I will buy from them.”

Can I respectfully celebrate by honoring cultural traditions that are not mine and doing my best to lift people of color who are living among us? 

For me, my 2023 Juneteenth was a quiet and personal celebration, filled with sadness for the past and hope for the future. I chose to read, learn and educate myself and share with my friends these hidden and whitewashed parts of our history.

Next year, I hope we all have more to celebrate in our quest for equality and human dignity.     

Reference Links:

2023 Juneteenth Day of Observance
How to Celebrate Juneteenth
President Biden signs the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act