Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom and the Enduring Struggle for Equality
The name “Juneteenth” is a blend of the words “June” and “nineteenth.”
Juneteenth, observed annually on June 19, marks one of the most significant moments in American history—the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation and the end of slavery in the United States. Though President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, declaring that “all persons held as slaves” in Confederate states “are, and henceforward shall be free,” it would take more than two years and the presence of Union troops for that promise to reach all enslaved people.
The name “Juneteenth” is a blend of the words “June” and “nineteenth.” On that day in 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, which stated:
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”
The order continued:
“This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.”
Though Lincoln’s proclamation had legally freed slaves in the rebellious states more than two years earlier, enforcement largely depended on the advance of Union troops. Texas, geographically isolated and resistant to Union control, became the last Confederate state where slavery endured.
Slavery would not be formally abolished across the United States until the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 1865. But for the newly freed people in Texas, June 19 was the day freedom became real—and it became a day to remember.
Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr., historian and Harvard professor, explained the significance of Juneteenth in the American narrative:
“Juneteenth is a chance to reflect on the struggle, resilience, and achievements of African Americans. It is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States.”
(Source: PBS, “The Significance of Juneteenth”)
In a speech on June 19, 2021, when he signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, President Joe Biden said:
“Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and a promise of a brighter morning to come.”
“This is a day of profound weight and power, a day in which we remember the moral stain, the terrible toll that slavery took on the country—and continues to take.”
The law officially made Juneteenth a federal holiday in the United States, beginning in 2021. Before that, it had long been commemorated primarily by African American communities across the South, often with church services, community gatherings, and educational events.
Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a longtime advocate for Juneteenth’s recognition, emphasized:
“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still work to do.”
(Congressional Record, 2021)
In Atlantic City and across the nation, Juneteenth serves as both a celebration of freedom and a call to reflect on the enduring legacy of slavery and the ongoing struggle for racial justice.
There are several Juneteenth Celebrations in Atlantic City and other parts of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, and the DMV area.
Here are just a few:
Juneteenth Celebration at the Noyes Arts Garage in AC
Student Juneteenth Celebration at Stockton University Atlantic City Campus
Check Out the Juneteenth Celebration at American Legion Post 81 in Pleasantville
Raymond Tyler
For much, much more check out this week's Weekend Guide!
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