Americans are celebrating #Juneteenth today, but what exactly does the day signify? 1/10

#Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. 2/10

Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, #Juneteenth specifically refers to June 19, 1865—the day that 250,000 enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom after Union General Gordon Granger arrived and announced Lincoln's proclamation. 3/10

As newly freed Texans began moving to neighboring states, #Juneteenth celebrations spread across the South and beyond. 4/10 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/holidays/reference/juneteenth/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=twitter::cmp=editorial::add=tw20200619hist-resurfjuneteenthexplainer::rid=

But freedom didn't come for everyone on June 19, 1865 because the Emancipation Proclamation only applied to the Confederacy. Many enslavers deliberately suppressed information about freedom. Slavery officially ended nationwide with the 13th Amendment in December 1865. 5/10

For decades, many southern black communities were forced to celebrate #Juneteenth on the outskirts of town due to racism and Jim Crow laws. 6/10

To ensure they had a safe place to gather, #Juneteenth groups would often collectively purchase plots of land in the city on which to celebrate. These parks were commonly named Emancipation Parks, many of which still exist today. 7/10

In 1980, Texas became the first state to recognize June 19 as a state holiday, which it did with legislation. Today, #Juneteenth is recognized by nearly every state, but it is still not a federal holiday. 8/10

“African Americans did not lay down and let life happen to them. They fought at every turn, and it is important to tell that story," says Mary Elliott, curator of American slavery at the @NMAAHC in Washington, D.C. 9/10 https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/2020/06/juneteenth-celebration-hope/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=social::src=twitter::cmp=editorial::add=tw20200619hist-juneteenthhope::rid=

Although it is a day of celebration, many young activists intend to use #JUNETEENTH2020 as a platform for elevating racial justice issues. 10/10

Want to know where all the above photos are from?
Photo 1: A #Juneteenth celebration in Richmond, Virginia in 1905. (Library of Congress)
Photo 2: Emancipation Park in Houston’s Third Ward was reopened for Juneteenth 2017 after a three-year renovation. (Michael Stravato)

Photo 3: A #Juneteenth barbecue in 2014. (Zack Wittman)
Photo 4: People chanted for Antwon Rose at Pittsburgh’s 2018 Juneteenth parade after the 17-year-old was shot and killed by a police officer. (Andrew Russell)