Juneteenth-The Real History

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation which declared that all slaves in Confederate states were free. This event occurred two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln's proclamation due to the Southern states' resistance. The ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865 abolished slavery throughout the United States. Despite this legal victory, former slaveholders continued to exert influence over former slaves, often exploiting them through various systemic means. The significance of Juneteenth lies in its commemoration of African American culture and heritage, celebrating resilience and the ongoing journey towards racial equality. Since 2021, Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday, a testament to the ongoing efforts to educate and acknowledge the historical struggles for freedom and justice in American society.