On the 19th June is commemorated in USA The end of the slaverya painful chapter of the history of the country whose legacy continues to resonate. June 19 – a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth” – has been celebrated for decades by the African American communities As the Emancipation Daybut the recent reckoning over the racial injustices and the growing political polarization have propelled the day to greater prominence national and cultural.
Many state and cities they organize festivities to commemorate this day, which is usually celebrated with parades, street parties and outdoor meals. According to activists of the civil rightsthis day is historical for the history of USAand its commemoration reaffirms the search for equality in the country.
The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 freed the people enslaved in the Confederate states, but did not immediately put an end to the slavery in places like Texas, which was still under Confederate control. Two and a half years later, on June 19, 1865the troops of the Union led by Major General Gordon Granger they came to Galveston, Texasand announced that more than 250,000 african americans enslaved in the state were free. (The emancipation throughout the country would only arrive with the ratification of the 13th Amendment that same year).
For the african americansthe news was a moment of “indescribable joy” which was received with great celebrations in Texasas stated by the historian CR Gibbs to The Washington Post. Also know as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day and Black Independence Daythe day remains deeply significant to the community.
June 19 became a kind of 4th of july celebration for the african americansdeclared to ThePost John A. Powell (who does not write his name in capital letters), director of the Othering and Belonging Institute of the University of California at Berkeley.
“It is especially important for african americans because they continue fighting for freedom and the equality. But June 19 was a momentous day to mark that next chapter we embark on,” he said. Recognize the history, Powell added, is part of the process. “We can not progress unless we know where we are and where we have been,” he said.
For Annette Gordon-Reedaward-winning historian Pulitzer Prize and author of “On Juneteenth”, the day commemorates an advance in the human rights. “It represents the hope that the country can strive to be better and work to perfect the Union“, he declared to the post.
Texas was the center of the main festivities of the Juneteenth for decades, but traditions They have spread throughout the country in recent years. The first celebrations of Juneteenth were used to teach slaves recently released right to vote.
Her first anniversaryin 1866was marked by a great procession in Galveston attended by hundreds of men, women and children. In Houstoncommunity leaders raised money to purchase land for a memorial site, which became known as Emancipation Park.
Gordon-Reednative of Texassaid that the day consists of getting together as a family and as community for cook and eat together. “In the most public celebrations, there are speeches and poetry. Is a festive occasionbut it is emphasized underlying importance of the day,” he added.
The celebrations ofJuneteenth” are associated with a rich and distinctive culinary tradition and usually include drinks and red foodas the barbecue and, more recently, the red velvet cake. Among the most appreciated drinks is a ruby-colored elixir based on ginger tea and african hibiscusas he wrote in his day master herbalist Sunyatta Amen for ThePost. The african slaves they brought to America a wide range of floors and cropsamong them the hibiscusand this drink became a powerful reminder of home.
This year, Galveston will project a documentary film and will host throughout the week live musical performances and conferences on history of Juneteenth. In D.C.the National Archives will expose to the public two historical documentsamong them the Emancipation Proclamation. Scotlanda community historically African American of the Montgomery County, Maryland founded by ancients slaveswill organize a parade and one car show.
In 2021President Biden promulgated the National Independence Day Law of June 19which declared it federal holidayduring the demonstrations in favor of the racial justice who toured the country after the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.
The measure received an overwhelming bipartisan support in it Congressand only 14 republicans of the House of Representatives They voted against. Critics of the law called it an attempt to celebrate the identity politics and to remake the ideology of the country with the critical race theory -which examines the way in which policies and the laws they perpetuate the systemic racism– in the middle.
In its speech, Biden stated that the establishment of June Day as a holiday it would be “one of the greatest honors” of his presidency.
Around him were members of the Congressional Black Caucus; the Vice President Harristhe first woman of color in occupying the position; as well as the activist Opal Lee, who had campaigned for the day to become a national holiday. “We have come a long way and we still have a lot to do. But today is a day of celebration,” he said. Harris in the act. “It’s not just a day of prideit is also a day to reaffirm ourselves and rededicate ourselves to action”.
The civil rights groups They welcomed the measure. “It’s a reminder That the freedom is a continuous fight“He then said President of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson.
At least 30 state and the D.C. recognize the Juneteenth as public holiday.
Texas was the first state to pass a law that turned him into state holiday in January 1980. Bill 1016 of the Texas House of Representativesfirst introduced at the beginning of 1979declared the Emancipation Day as a legal holiday.
Kansas and Rhode Island are some of the latest states that have declared the Emancipation Day state holiday. The governor of Kentuckyhe Democrat Andy Beshearsigned in May a executive order by which the Emancipation Day as a state holiday.
In Alabamaa new bill, HB 4would make June 19 into state holidayalthough state employees could choose between recognizing June 19 or the birthday of the president of the Confederation, Jefferson Davis, on June 3. A similar initiative is underway in Alaskawhere a bill making June 19 state holiday It is awaiting the governor’s approval.
All the state have at some point recognized June 19 at least as day of observancewhich means that it is commemorated even if it is not a holiday, according to the Pew Research Center.
The Federal Reserve and its branches will remain closed on Wednesday, and some of the main commercial banksas Bank of America and Wells Fargo, they will also close. The federal courts will remain closed, although the security system electronic filing will be available.
He June sixteenth It is a holiday for employees of the Postal Service of the United States. The services of collection and delivery will be available at the offices of UPS and FedEx. It is also a holiday in stock market United States.
(c) 2024, The Washington Post
