Authored By: Candace Whitman
This Saturday, June 19 is Juneteenth, which commemorates the day slavery ended in the United States. On June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to inform the people of Texas about the Emancipation Proclamation and ensure that all slaves were freed.
The following year a group of freedmen in Texas came together to celebrate and thus began the over a 150-year-old tradition of Juneteenth. This year Juneteenth became an official federal holiday. According to the Wall Street Journal, the Senate passed the bill unanimously on Tuesday, June 15th and the House voted 415-14 to make it a national holiday on Wednesday, June 16th. President Biden signed the bill on Thursday, June 17th.
Juneteenth.com said about the holiday, “Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.”
Advocate Capital will observe Juneteenth as a holiday, and we are happy that it has become a national holiday. To read more about the history of Juneteenth, read the articles on Juneteeth.com and History.com.
Photo Credit: Vadim Rysev, 123rf.com