Juneteenth

Juneteenth is an African-American celebration on June 19, the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached slaves in Galveston, Texas—two years after it was issued. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.

Slaves Seated Outside Their House
Buy this Art Print from Allposters.com

The proclamation was read on the docks of Galveston by Union general Gordon Granger and news quickly spread throughout the state, sparking impromptu celebrations which were continued on the June 19th anniversary. These gatherings evolved into political rallies and later into formal celebrations planned far in advance by Juneteenth committees. June 19, 1865 was a Monday but now Juneteenth is celebrated on the third Saturday of June.

In early years these celebrations were commonly relegated by law to the outskirts of towns. However eventually many organizational committees purchased land inside towns for the express purpose of holding the celebration; one example was Emancipation Park in Austin.

Beginning in the 1960s celebrations of Juneteenth became less popular due to the desire for integration embodied by the civil rights movement. Interest returned in the following decades however, and in 1979 Juneteenth was made a Texas state holiday.

By the end of the twentieth century, Juneteenth celebrations had become popular outside of Texas, and are now held annually in many different locations across the United States and throughout the world.

Up until integration, Juneteenth was the one day a year in Texas when Blacks could go to restaurants, sit downstairs in movie theaters, go to parks, the zoo, etc. Whites as a whole, did not frequent such places on Juneteenth, so it was not exactly integration.

Ralph Ellison's last, partially complete novel was titled Juneteenth.

It should be noted that, because the Emancipation Proclamation applied only to the states that had seceded from the Union, the final surrender of the Confederacy did not end slavery altogether throughout the United States, as four slaveholding states—Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri—never left the Union, and slavery was also technically legal (though not widespread) in territories that make up the present states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Slaves in these states and territories did not receive their freedom until the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865. Even so, December 6 is not known to be observed anywhere as marking the end of slavery.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from Wikipedia and from ShiningRise.com

SHOP HERE FOR HOLIDAY PRODUCTS
We have Flameless Candles, Glow and LED Novelties, Christmas Cards, Webkinz, Stocking Stuffers, Party Products, Decorations and more available to for all your Party and Gift needs.

Find Insurance Agents in Your ZIP Code
Find Local Insurance Agents in your ZIP Code and Compare Agents & National Carriers. Compare Quotes from Top Providers and Begin Saving Today!

Special Hotel Offers
Reach to travel site links for special hotel room offers. Save on your hotel reservation.

>> FULL COLOR BROCHURE <<
Order Today, Ready Tomorrow. FREE SHIPPING!

Alaska Cruise
The best way to see Alaska is now the cheapest way.

holidays
Don't just search for holidays, find results.

Holiday Info
Get Info on Holiday from 14 search engines in 1.