Black America has celebrated Juneteenth since June 19, 1865, when American troops arrived in the state of Texas to announce that the conflict had ended with the surrender of the Confederacy in April.
This occurred two months after Appomattox, the small town in the state of Virginia where Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his sword to American General Ulysses S. Grant.
However, the news of the end of the rebellion had not yet traveled to the states that seceded in 1861.From Africa to America, the Odyssey of Slavery
Juneteenth (officially called Juneteenth National Independence Day or Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, or Black Independence Day) is a national holiday in the U.S. that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It is typically seen as a celebration of African American culture. It is a day of remembrance, renewal, and celebration. It is a time reserved to learn, reflect, and delve into the African American experience.
The persistence of slavery was one of the most important political issues in the United States in the 19th century and was also a central cause of the Civil War. As in many other places around the world, including perhaps especially in Brazil, slave labor was fundamental to the economic success of colonized territories.
The case of the U.S. presents an even more central point of emphasis: the slavery practiced there enabled England to pioneer the Industrial Revolution (1780-1840). The cotton produced under the sweat and blood of enslaved blacks arrived at ridiculously low prices in English factories. After being processed in the new mechanical looms, it became fabrics that turned into exorbitant profits in the pockets of the early bourgeoisie—who also exploited the labor of the impoverished English workers.
Slavery in the U.S. enabled the rise of capitalism, and slavery in Brazil and Latin America provided the food so that the labor force would not suffer from hunger.The Proclamation and the Civil War
Abraham Lincoln was elected American president in 1860 with an openly abolitionist campaign. In 1861, seven Southern states, where slavery was strongest and still the basis of the economy, declared they would secede from the country. The Confederacy was formed, and the war scenario was set to come.
To strengthen the institution of slavery and increase plantations and profits, the Confederacy formed military forces with the aim of gaining territories. Opposing forces, which tried to unite the country (hence called the Union), attempted to avoid conflict but failed, and both sides prepared for war. In April 1861, the conflict erupted. It was four years of war and people taking up arms to defend the right to enslave African and African American blacks.
Gradually, Union forces advanced. When the first rays of sunshine of 1863 arrived, Abraham Lincoln was preparing a Proclamation that would free the 32 million blacks still enslaved in the country. However, by only remembering this date, we forget one issue: most of these enslaved people were in the southern U.S., and for this Proclamation to be truly applied, Union troops would need to advance and defeat the Confederacy once and for all.
Slavery in the Southern states still remained for some time. In Delaware and Kentucky, enslaving people was still legalized. Also in Texas, slavery remained alive, even after it ended in other southern states.
Several reasons are pointed out as possible explanations for Texas being the last state to end slavery. The first is that slave owners hid the news about the Proclamation. The second is that a messenger carrying the news was murdered before reaching Texas. The third is that Union troops delayed their arrival in Texas so that farmers could have one last harvest with slave labor. Regardless, slavery only saw its end with the arrival of Union General Gordon Granger.
It was June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger communicated Order No. 3, which ended slavery in Texas.
“I inform the people of Texas that according to the Executive Proclamation of the United States, all are free. This implies absolute equality of rights and property rights between former masters and former slaves, and the relationship that existed between them becomes that between employer and free worker.”
By announcing “General Order No. 3,” he freed about 250,000 blacks still enslaved throughout Texas.
“The people of Texas are informed that, according to a proclamation of the U.S. Executive, all slaves are free,” reads the order.
By 1866, Juneteenth—a contraction of “June Nineteenth”—was celebrated by the Black population of Texas. Former slaves used this day to gather, rejoice, and plan ways to overcome or eradicate ongoing inequalities and injustices, especially when Jim Crow laws, which imposed segregation, came into effect. Initially involving community meetings centered around churches in Texas, it eventually spread throughout the southern U.S. and became more prominent in the 1920s and 30s. During the Great Migration, thousands of African Americans left the South in search of more opportunities and to escape segregationist policies. This caused the celebration of Juneteenth to spread across the country, with celebrations now occurring in all corners of the U.S.
However, due to the economic and cultural forces of the early 20th century, the celebration received less financial support, leading to a decline in observances outside Texas. Additionally, in schools and history books, little is said about General Granger’s order, and the date was forgotten by society.
During the civil rights movement, during the turbulent decades of the 1950s and 60s, these celebrations were amplified by protests for equality as Black Americans demanded and received legal protection in housing, voting, employment, and other important matters. Starting in the 1970s, Juneteenth regained popularity in the African American community.
The symbolism of the day of freedom that is June 19 remained strong.
Through the African American state legislator, Al Edwards, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday in 1980. Currently, almost all states and the District of Columbia observe this memorable celebration.
Now, many see it as the true Independence Day of the United States, when all people were finally free, regardless of their race. In 2020, with national racial tensions high on television following the murder of George Floyd, the notion of Juneteenth was widely shared in the media across the U.S., and not just in small pockets of the country, culminating in President Joe Biden signing legislation on June 17, 2021, that made June 19 a federal holiday.
June 19 is the second official holiday of the United States Government in honor of African Americans.
The first honors the January 15 birthday of civil rights champion and martyr Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., reflecting on him and the struggles and sacrifices of Black people in the U.S.
And for the second American holiday in June, a Black woman, Kamala Harris, sits as Vice President of the United States.
Although the chains of slavery were broken nearly 150 years ago, advocates for minority rights say that much still needs to be done to provide people of color in the U.S. with a “full seat at the table.”
They point to economic and social factors that continue to harm Blacks and other minorities.
In recent years, Juneteenth has gained greater recognition and observance, transcending its historical roots and spreading its message of freedom and equality. Juneteenth was designated a holiday in recognition of its historical significance and the need to acknowledge the complex history of slavery and racial injustice in the country.
The meaning of Juneteenth goes beyond a single day of celebration. It serves as an opportunity for individuals, communities, and institutions to engage in dialogue, education, and action to dismantle systemic racism, promote social justice, and foster inclusion. By embracing the values of Juneteenth throughout the year, we can work to create a more equitable society for all.The Celebration of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a day of celebration, reflection, and learning. Celebrations include plenty of food, cultural performances, and family gatherings. However, for many African Americans, it is also a day of prayer and reverence for the memory of ancestors who fought for freedom and the preservation of culture. According to the website juneteenth.com, many descendants of former enslaved people in Texas still pilgrimage to Galveston, the city where Gordon Granger issued Order Number 3, to celebrate the day. It is a moment to honor the contributions of African Americans to society, their cultural heritage, and reflect on the progress made toward racial equality.Resilience and Empowerment
Juneteenth serves as a poignant reminder of the strength, resilience, and determination demonstrated by African Americans throughout history. It is a celebration of their freedom, but also an acknowledgment of the challenges faced during and after slavery. Juneteenth embodies the spirit of resilience, unity, and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice. It is a day to recognize and amplify African American voices, highlighting their achievements, contributions, and the ongoing fight against systemic racism.
Juneteenth remains a powerful reminder of the journey toward freedom, the strength of the human spirit, and the ongoing struggle for equality. It celebrates the triumphs of the past while inspiring hope for the future. As we commemorate June 19, let us honor the resilience of those who came before us, amplify the voices of the marginalized, and commit ourselves to the pursuit of justice, equality, and true freedom for all.Disputes Surrounding the Memory of Slavery
From time to time, we get lost in a nonsensical debate that tries to determine— as if it were possible to compare— in which country the worst slavery prevailed: Brazil or the United States? This debate occasionally leads to another of the same type, which tries to assess which of the two nations has the worst racism.
If, on one hand, it is impossible—and even counterproductive—to get anywhere with this, on the other hand, it is always possible and healthy to observe the distinct historical experiences as what they truly are: different. The history of one place does not need to be better or worse than that of another to have its importance, whether regional or not.
One must also consider the similarity that exists within the difference. Yes, slavery manifested historically in a different way between Brazil and the United States. Just as the manifestations of racism diverge from one country to another. However, this does not change the fact that both countries were built on the enslavement of Black people from the African continent. Nor does it change the fact that our ancestors resisted in various ways from the very first day they set foot in America.
If the official history surrounding Juneteenth insists on remembering only the white President and General, it hides the direct participation of Black men and women who played a vital role in the conquest of freedom for their brothers and sisters. The Union armies included thousands of former enslaved people from the Northern colonies who, seeing themselves free, were willing to fight for the freedom of their own.
In the U.S., Haiti, Brazil, or the rest of Latin America… wherever it may be, the struggle of our people is the main reason for overcoming slavery. “I remember my ancestors, they all carried on,” sings Baco. And that is true, here and everywhere. The struggle of our people is the universal experience of life in the diaspora. May we no longer waste time measuring oppressions. May we look at the differences in our trajectories merely as differences. And, more than that, may we seize the similarities that exist in these trajectories to unite around what brings us closer: the struggle. Happy Juneteenth to us. Let us fight.