Juneteenth Day

This research paper will focus on the history and significance of Juneteenth Day.

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, is a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of slaves in the United States. This day has been celebrated since 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news that the Civil War had ended and that all slaves were now free.

Juneteenth has been called "the most important date in African-American history" because it marks the end of chattel slavery in the United States. Chattel slavery is a system of slavery in which people are treated as property and can be bought and sold like other commodities. For centuries, African Americans were subjected to this brutal system of exploitation and dehumanization.

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared that all slaves in rebel states were to be free. However, due to the slow pace of communication and the resistance of slaveholders, many slaves did not learn of their freedom until Union troops arrived with the news. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger read aloud General Order No. 3 to a group of African Americans in Galveston, Texas. This order announced the total emancipation of all slaves in Texas.

News of emancipation spread rapidly throughout the South, and African Americans began celebrating this momentous occasion with prayer services, parades, and feasts. Juneteenth became an annual tradition in many African-American communities. Over time, the holiday became a symbol of African-American freedom and pride.

Today, Juneteenth is celebrated throughout the United States, with large celebrations taking place in cities with significant African-American populations. The holiday is also observed in other countries, such as Canada and Liberia. In recent years, there has been a push to make Juneteenth a national holiday. This would be a significant step in recognizing the importance of this day in American history.