Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with the news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation – which had become official on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April 1865 and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Later attempts to explain this two-and-a-half-year delay in receiving this important news have yielded several versions handed down. Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the announcement of freedom. Another is that the enslavers deliberately withheld the information to maintain the labor force on the plantations. He had the federal troops wait for the enslavers to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All of which or neither of these versions could be true. Indeed, for some, President Lincoln’s authority over the rebellious states was in question for whatever reason; conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.
General Order Number 3
One of General Granger’s first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3, which began most significantly with:
“The people of Texas are informed that by a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and enslaved people, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and free laborer.”
The reactions to this profound news ranged from pure shock to immediate jubilation. While many lingered to learn of this new employer-to-employee relationship, many left before these offers were completely off the lips of their former ‘masters’ – attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom. Despite having nowhere to go, many felt leaving the plantation would be their first grasp of space. North was a logical destination; for many, it represented true freedom, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove some into Louisiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. They were settling into these new areas as free men and women brought new realities and the challenges of establishing a non-existent status for black people in America. Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would motivate and release them from the growing pressures encountered in their new territory. The celebration of June 19th was coined “Juneteenth” and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time to reassure each other, pray, and gather remaining family members. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas decades later, with many formerly enslaved people and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.
Juneteenth Festivities and Food
Many activities were provided to entertain the masses and continue in tradition today. Rodeos, fishing, barbecuing, and baseball are typical Juneteenth activities you may witness today. Juneteenth almost always focused on education and self-improvement. Thus, guest speakers are often brought in, and the elders are called upon to recount past events. Prayer services were also a significant part of these celebrations.
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