This year, YDL is going to be a part of the Kids Corner at Ypsilanti’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration! Stop by the Bookmobile to get swag and decorate your own puzzle piece to show what “Freedom for All” looks like to you. The community art puzzles will be exhibited at YDL!
Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day—is an annual holiday on June 19 commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth originated in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger informed the last remaining enslaved African Americans of their freedom. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation declaring all enslaved people in the Confederate states were free on January 1, 1863. However, due to a lack of Union troops to enforce the proclamation, slavery continued for two and a half years after the proclamation was issued.
For many years, African American communities across the country kept the holiday’s significance alive and gradually raised awareness about its importance. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. In 1996, the first legislation to recognize “Juneteenth Independence Day” was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Congressman Ron Dellums, but it did not pass. Subsequent attempts were made over the years, with Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee playing a key role in advocating for the holiday.
In the wake of the murder of George Floyd on May 25, 2020, the Black Lives Matter movement and nationwide protests against racial injustice and police brutality brought greater attention to the importance of acknowledging African American history. In June 2021, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and Senator Ed Markey introduced the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act in their respective chambers of Congress. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and overwhelmingly in the House of Representatives. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the act into law, making Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.
Click on the Juneteenth flag to learn about the symbolism behind it, and read on to find more information about the history of Juneteenth as well as resources for talking about race and racism.
Library Events
YDL is happy to be a part of Ypsilanti’s annual Juneteenth Celebration! The Bookmobile will be at the Kids’ Corner on Saturday, June 22 from 11am-4pm; stop by to create community art while enjoying music, activities, and swag. We’ll share resources, a storytime about the history of Juneteenth, library card signups, and more!
YDL Juneteenth Displays
What is the history of Juneteenth?
Few Union troops had been able to enter Texas during the Civil War and for some time after Robert E. Lee surrendered and the Civil War ended. There weren’t enough Union troops to enforce the proclamation, so it had little immediate impact in Texas. Many slaveholders in Texas deliberately withheld this information from their slaves, and some even moved to Texas from other states to escape the reach of the Emancipation Proclamation.
It wasn’t until General Granger and his troops entered Texas that the formerly-enslaved persons were told of their freedom. General Gordon issued General Order Number 3, stating, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
The news of freedom spread slowly across the state, and many enslaved people still didn’t learn of their emancipation until several months later. General Granger’s order contained language stating that formerly-enslaved people shouldn’t expect government assistance or reparations for their enslavement. The order also encouraged former slaves to remain in their current homes and continue to work for those who had enslaved them as paid laborers.
The first Juneteenth celebrations began the following year, in 1866, as a way for newly freed African Americans to commemorate their freedom. These early celebrations often involved prayer meetings, speeches, and gatherings of family and community. The holiday grew in prominence during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s and has continued to gain recognition in recent years.
Today, Juneteenth represents a time for reflection, education, celebration, and action. It serves as a powerful reminder of the long and painful history of slavery in America. It is a time to reflect on this dark chapter in American history and to honor the strength and perseverance of those who have fought against oppression.
Notable Figures
Learn about three incredible individuals who educated our country about the importance of Juneteenth.
Al Edwards (1937-2020) was a Texas state legislator representing Houston. One of Edward’s primary goals during his time as a state representative was to pass a law establishing Juneteenth as a holiday. In 1979, he introduced and successfully passed legislation making Juneteenth an official state holiday in Texas, the first state to do so. As of 2023, 49 states (every state except South Dakota) and Washington, D.C. have officially recognized Juneteenth. Edwards passed away in April 2020, just one year before Juneteenth became a federal holiday.
Resources
To find more information about Juneteenth and the contributions of Black Americans, check out the resources below.