On January 1, 1863, President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation became effective. Nevertheless, on June 19, 1865, Union Army General Gordon Granger announced in Galveston, Texas, federal orders proclaiming all enslaved people in Texas free. Before that date, enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation had presented a challenge in Texas due to the state’s geographic isolation and resulting lack of Union soldiers in the state. Moreover, the Emancipation Proclamation applied only to states that were in rebellion against the union. Approximately six months later, the ratification of the 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the United States. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia recognize Juneteenth as either a state holiday or a ceremonial observance.

Further Reading:

Juneteenth Timeline: Slavery and the Struggle for Emancipation

https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/learn/deep-dives/juneteenth-slavery-and-struggle-emancipation/

Slavery and Remembrance: A Guide to Site, Museums, and Memory

http://slaveryandremembrance.org/

Juneteenth, an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, has been celebrated by African-Americans since the late 1800s.

The original celebration became an annual one, and it grew in popularity over the years with the addition of descendants, according to Juneteenth.com, which tracks celebrations. The day was celebrated by praying and bringing families together. In some celebrations on this day, men and women who had been enslaved, and their descendants, made an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston.

Celebrations reached new heights in 1872 when a group of African-American ministers and businessmen in Houston purchased 10 acres of land and created Emancipation Park. The space was intended to hold the city’s annual Juneteenth celebration.

Today, while some celebrations take place among families in backyards where food is an integral element, some cities, like Atlanta and Washington, hold larger events, like parades and festivals with residents, local businesses, and more.