JUNETEENTH, RACISM IS A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

In Honor of Juneteenth

June 19 – Juneteenth, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day: A holiday celebrating and reflecting on freedom, resilience and hope for the Black community.

In 1937 the memory of Juneteenth by Felix Haywood, a man formerly enslaved in Texas, was recorded by the Federal Writers Project. 

Mr. Haywood recalled: “Solders, all of a sudden, was everywhere – comin’ in bunches, crossin’ and walkin’ and ridin’. Everyone was a-singin’. We was all walkin’ on golden clouds. Hallelujah! …. Everybody went wild. We all felt like heroes and nobody had made us that way but ourselves. We was free. Just like that, we was free.”

More than 200 years after the first enslaved Africans arrived on the shores of the 13 colonies, the presidential proclamation and executive order announcing the end of slavery in rebelling states was initially made in September 1862, with plans to take effect on January 1, 1863.  On January 1, 1863 President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation.  He listed the ten states still in rebellion (excluding parts of states under Union control) and stated: “I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free....”  Thus, freeing all persons held in bondage in the rebelling states, of which Texas was a part. 

Implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation did not occur in most places until the Union army arrived to enforce the proclamation.  Many enslavers moved their “property” (enslaved persons) to Texas because it was remote and they could avoid freeing their slaves. However, those persons were indeed liberated on June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger of the Union Army, along with the Colored Regiment, reached Galveston, TX and read General Order #3 aloud, informing everyone that enslaved persons were now free – affecting 250,000 persons.

As the announcement was made and enslaved persons saw the free Black men of the colored regiment, people understood – they were no longer enslaved they were free!  

They sung a new Negro Spiritual in Celebration:
Slavery chain don broke at last!
Broke at last, broke at last! 
Slavery chain don broke at last!
Gonna praise God ‘til I die!

Slavery Chain Done Broke at Last - YouTube

Juneteenth celebrates one of many fundamental acts that created and ensured freedom for African Americans.  Learn more about the day, it’s history, ways to celebrate and actions you can take to help heal our nation below.

SOURCES:
Lohse, B. (2007, January 19). Felix Haywood (1855 - ?). Felix Haywood (1855- ?) • (blackpast.org)
NMAAHC. (2021, June 7). What is Juneteenth? | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)
National Archives. (2017, May 5). Transcript of the Proclamation | National Archives
National Archives. (2022). Documented Rights Audio: Slavery Chain Done Broke At Last Lyrics (archives.gov)
Wikipedia. (2022, June 16). Emancipation Proclamation - Wikipedia
Zinn Education Project. (2020, June 18). History: June 19, 1865 'Juneteenth Emancipation Day' - PopularResistance.Org

More than 200 years after what is believed to be the beginning of the African-European-North American slave trade, the presidential announcement of Emancipation Proclamation was made in 1862. This Proclamation ordered slavery in the United States to legally end on January 1, 1863.

Though little changed for most Black Americans, worse still, nothing changed in Texas where the news of Emancipation and the end of the Civil War had neither been accepted or known until 1865.

On June 19, 1865, more than 2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect, official word was finally delivered to the military in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War was over and all who were enslaved were to be freed. This announcement affected more than 250,000 Black Americans – who were expected to consider their former ‘owners’ as their ‘employers’ and they were to live as ‘hired labor.’

At that moment in 1865, what the future held did not matter. As the words from that long-awaited announcement still hung in the air, for Black Americans hope lived. That day, for those newly freed in Texas, became a spontaneous and joyous celebration that would be commemorated again and again across the states and for years to come. June 19, 1865 - Freedom Day, Juneteenth: a true holiday that the Black community could call their own, when so little else at that time could.

  • Read an in-depth history of the day and the holiday here and here.
  • Watch a video about Juneteenth here.
  • Click on the tabs above for other ways to celebrate, learn, and act!

Maryland has many public celebrations for all people. Here are just a few!

JUNE 18, 2022

Register early or volunteer: the City of Annapolis' Juneteenth Parade & Festival

Shop and support local Black businesses - Juneteenth: Black Wall Street Pop Up at the Palladium in Liberty Heights

Attend a weekend of fun in Chestertown for their Juneteenth celebrations

JUNE 19, 2022

For $35, attend The Historic East Towson Juneteeth Music Festival, an all-day event in Towson

Find even more events here!