Repost: What is Juneteenth? - The Bedford Citizen

Brief Summary:
This article explains the origins and significance of Juneteenth, highlighting its historical background, why it became a national holiday in the U.S., and the ongoing importance of commemorating African American contributions. The author, Joe Zellner, traces the timeline of emancipation and clarifies common misunderstandings about this meaningful day. The piece also touches on the lasting impact of slavery and the broader cultural celebrations tied to Juneteenth.

---

1. Setting the Stage: Juneteenth Becomes a National Holiday

When Juneteenth was proclaimed a national holiday, it happened during the uniquely confusing and challenging times of the Covid-19 pandemic. For many people in the United States, this new public holiday led them to ask:

"What is Juneteenth?"

This question was especially common because, although Juneteenth is deeply meaningful for many African Americans, it was long unfamiliar to much of the country.

---

2. The Historical Meaning of Juneteenth

Juneteenth has a special place in the hearts of many African Americans, particularly those whose family histories are tied to ancestors who were enslaved in the U.S. This day marks June 19, 1865, when the end of slavery was officially announced in Texas—well after the Civil War had technically ended.

To understand the full story, it's important to remember that the Southern forces, under General Robert E. Lee, had already surrendered in April 1865. However, in Texas, this surrender and the end of the war weren't publicly declared until June. The article highlights this gap:

"Among many African Americans, and black Americans who trace their ancestry to enslaved ancestors in the U.S., Juneteenth had long been known as the day that the end of slavery was announced in Texas, June 19, 1865 at the end of the Civil War."

But for many African Americans outside the South, and certainly for the broader U.S. public, the significance of Juneteenth and the specifics of when freedom arrived in Texas were not widely understood.

---

3. Why June 19 Matters

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated and commemorated as the day when slavery effectively ended in the United States. While there are other significant dates linked to ending legal slavery in the U.S., the author encourages everyone to recognize June 19, 1865, for a very important reason:

"It can be shown that on that date all enslaved people in the U.S. knew about, or perhaps, had the option to know that racial slavery had ended in the U.S."

This acknowledgment matters, because freedom did not arrive all at once everywhere. It was a slow, complicated process, and Juneteenth marks the moment when awareness of emancipation spread even to the most remote areas, like Texas.

---

4. The Road to Emancipation: Key Events and Ongoing Struggles

Abolishing slavery in the U.S. was far from simple. Even after chattel slavery—where people were born into slavery and treated as property—with additional rules like "one-drop" laws (which treated anyone with any African ancestry as black and therefore subject to slavery or discrimination)—ended in the U.S., other parts of the world still maintained race-based slavery.

Key milestones along the way included:

• 1862: President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, announcing a limited end to slavery, effective January 1, 1863.
• April 1865: The surrender of Confederate forces led by General Lee signaled the end of major fighting and, presumably, the end of slavery.
• December 1865: The ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution declared that slavery was no longer legal in the country.

As Zellner points out:

"The ratification and addition of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in December 1865 declared that slavery was no longer legal in the United States. Most agreeably, all of these events served to end slavery in the U.S. and one might well include the Juneteenth declaration of June 1865."

Yet, despite these achievements, the author also notes that the struggle did not fully end there:

"Nonetheless, debate still continues and we argue that despite all of these actions and after all of these actions in the U.S., 'slavery by another name' continued on in this country."

This phrase refers to how, after the end of legal slavery, systems like sharecropping, segregation, and unjust imprisonment continued to oppress Black Americans for decades.

---

5. Juneteenth Today: Honoring Culture and Contributions

Now, Juneteenth is more than just a historical marker. Known as "Juneteenth National Independence Day," it is a time to also celebrate African American culture and heritage across the U.S. The author reflects on this broader meaning:

"African Americans have made numerous and commendable contributions to the history and culture of the nation. African Americans, well-known and/or little-known, enslaved and/or free, men, women, non-binary and all contributed to the freedom fight that the nation summarizes and celebrates as Juneteenth."

It's a day to remember not only the struggles and hardships, but the achievements, creativity, and resilience that have helped shape American culture and history.

---

Conclusion

Juneteenth stands as a powerful reminder of the end of slavery in the United States and honors the ongoing contributions of African Americans to the nation's freedom and culture. As we celebrate this day each year, it's an opportunity for all Americans to reflect on the journey toward justice, equality, and unity.