Why is June 19th known as Juneteenth? The answer is rooted in history. Juneteenth is an African-American holiday that celebrates the emancipation of slaves in Texas in 1865.
The video below tells the story of when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas, it was June 18, "and the next day he announced the emancipation of African-American slaves."
Although the freedom of slaves is still not recognized as a federally, Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth as a state holiday in 1980. As a senator, Barack Obama co-sponsored legislation to make Juneteenth a national holiday, though it didn't pass then or while he was president. As of recent, companies like Quicken Loans, Twitter, Nike, and others, recognizes Juneteenth as a paid holiday for employees who wish the celebrate the day.
As the tradition of Juneteenth spread across the U.S., different localities put different spins on celebrations. In southern states, the holiday is traditionally celebrated with oral histories and readings, "red soda water" or strawberry soda, and barbecues. Some states serve up Marcus Garvey salad with red, green, and black beans, in honor of the black nationalist. Rodeos have become part of the tradition in the southwest, while contests, concerts, and parades are a common theme across the country.
How will you celebrate Juneteenth?