Juneteenth, and why is it celebrated?
Something is interesting this time. Of course about "Juneteenth, and why is it celebrated?". That was June 19, 1865, when federal troops freed the country's last slaves in Galveston, Texas. And then President Joe Biden signed legislation to make it a national holiday in 2021.
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| Domino Holmes, left, and Chana Olse, look at images on a phone at a Juneteenth block party in the Deep Ellum neighborhood of Dallas. Photograph: Stewart F House/AP |
Intrigued by "Juneteenth"? It is interesting to discuss Juneteenth quoted from Stuart Gollomy (drberita.com). Here are the origins of June, how it became a federal holiday, and what's different this year.
What is Juneteenth?
A Union general arrives in Texas to tell a group of enslaved African Americans about their freedom under President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. On June 16, the fusion of June 19 commemorates the day on which the Confederate states surrendered to end the U.S. Civil War.
The Confederate army surrendered in April 1865, but news of freedom did not reach the last enslaved blacks in Galveston until June 19, when Union soldiers informed them that they were free.
When Georgia ratified the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution six months later, slavery was permanently abolished. The following year, the now-free people of Galveston began celebrating June, a celebration that continued and spread around the world.
What is the significance of Juneteenth?
In the United States, there is a movement to use the holidays as an opportunity for activism and education, with community service projects aimed at addressing racial differences and discussions about issues such as inequality, health care, and the need for parks and green spaces.
Juneteenth, like any holiday, has its fair share of business aspects.
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Retailers, museums, and other places are capitalizing on it by selling Juneteenth-themed T-shirts, party supplies, and ice cream.
Supporters of the holiday are also trying to ensure that Juneteenth offenders do not forget the reason the day was founded.
In 2019, Dee Evans, national communications director of the National Juneteenth Observatory Foundation, stated, "In 1776, the country was liberated from England, but the people were not all free." "June 19, 1865, was the time when the whole country and the people were completely free."
In addition, there is respect for using these days to remember the sacrifices made for freedom in the United States, especially in today's racial and political era.
Is Juneteenth a federal holiday?
This is a federal holiday. A national tally of races sparked by the killing of George Floyd by police in 2020 helped set the stage for Juneteenth to become the first new federal holiday since 1983 when Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
According to the Pew Research Center, at least 28 states and the District of Columbia will officially recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday this year, "meaning state government offices are closed and state workers get a day off."
Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada, and Tennessee have made Juneteenth a public holiday at the state level starting this year, Pew said.
"Most states where Juneteenth is a public holiday added it to their calendar in 2020 or later. The exception is Texas. ... Juneteenth has been celebrated locally in Texas since the 1860s and became an official state holiday there in 1980."
South Dakota, North Dakota, and Hawaii were the last states to grant official recognition of the holiday. Hawaii and North Dakota began marking Juneteenth as a day of remembrance in 2022. It is not yet considered a state holiday in any of these states.
What's new this year?
Biden held a concert on the South Lawn of the White House to commemorate this year's holiday.
The concert, the first of its kind at the White House, featured performances by singers Jennifer Hudson, Audra McDonald, and Ledisi. Speaking at the event, Biden urged Americans to choose love over hate and remember history, not erase it.
"As recent years remind us, our freedom has been at stake by racism which is still too powerful a force," he said.
"Hate just hiding,... And when given oxygen, just a little oxygen, it roars back, and we have to... stood up and refused his oxygen. So Juneteenth as a federal holiday is meant to breathe new life into the essence of America," he added.
On Sunday morning, authorities said at least 23 people were shot, one dead, as they gathered in a suburban Chicago parking lot that drew hundreds to celebrate Juneteenth.
The White House issued a statement saying, "The President and First Lady are thinking of those killed and injured in the shooting in Illinois last night. We have reached out to offer assistance to state and local leaders following this tragedy at the Juneteenth community celebration".
What types of celebrations and events are happening across the country?
Search online, and you'll find a myriad of meetings in cities, suburbs, and cities, all differing in scope and tone.
Some of these are carnival festivals with food trucks, arts, crafts, and parades. People who attend may even have access to health and financial professionals as well as community resources.
There are also concerts and fashion shows to highlight the excellence and creativity of black people. For those who want to look back, many organizations and universities hold panels to remind people of the history of Juneteenth.
Hopefully this information and news "Juneteenth, and why is it celebrated?" provide information for you.