A THREAD ON THE HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas on June 19th, 1865 enforcing the new Executive Order.

Why is it significant?

Because this was TWO YEARS AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

(cont.)

Why the delay:

Many slave owners suppressed the news of Confederate defeat and didn’t inform slaves they were free.

Plus the Emancipation Proclamation wasn’t enforced fully in Confederate States.

Sadly many slaves were STILL forced by violence into continued slavery.

(cont.)

It wasn’t until Major General Gordon Granger marched into Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 with the Executive Order that they were finally made aware and set free.

His Executive Order 'pictured below' (even in the wording you can see we'd have a LONG struggle ahead):

(cont.)

Now freed, many left plantations and settled in nearby states, others went up North for more opportunities, and some started the long journey of searching to reconnect with family they had lost.

While the struggle was far from over, Juneteenth is a day to appreciate our ancestors, to remember all they went through, and celebrate our resilience in spite of.

Our story in this nation has been one for the ages yet June 19th was the dawn of a new chapter in Black History.