What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth marks the events of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Texas and issued a public order informing Texans that enslaved people were now free. This news actually came two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect, making enslaved Texans the last to be notified of their freedom. That purposeful delay was a manifestation of white supremacy, as enslavers actively attempted to stop awareness of the Proclamation so that enslaved people would continue to provide free labor without knowledge of their freedom.
Black Texans began the annual celebration on June 19th, and the tradition eventually spread across the country—but not without opposition, including whitewashed history and the long-banned use of public spaces for Juneteenth.
This is only the second year that Juneteenth has been recognized as a federal holiday in the past 157 years of its existence. While we still have a way to go in achieving racial equity in this nation, we cannot discredit the need to honor the legacies of those enslaved persons who helped build this country without proper compensation or recognition. Juneteenth is a moment for us to celebrate and continue to work toward freedom in all aspects of life.
With June also being Pride Month, URGE is highlighting Black-LGBTQIA+ intersectionality this year in honor of both Pride and Juneteenth – two commemorative moments borne out of oppression.
As a bisexual Black woman living in San Antonio whose ancestors hail from Central Texas prior to the Great Migration up North, I am proud to live at the intersection of Blackness and queerness in the South.
Check out our graphic series on [Instagram] and our brief original video, "Black & PROUD" on [YouTube].
To learn more about the history of Juneteenth, visit Juneteenth.com. Juneteenth DC has resources on how to teach children about the history and significance of the day.
Have a happy and safe Juneteenth!
