As shocking as it may be to those unfamiliar with this part of history, not all slaves were freed as a result of the Emancipation Proclamation. While most enslaved African Americans finally had their freedom when the Proclamation took effect on January 2, 1863, others were forced to wait even longer. The state of Texas was still under Confederate control. It wasn’t until two and a half years later—on June 19, 1865—when Union troops arrived in Texas to take control of the state. The military announced that the enslaved people there were free. The day was memorialized as Juneteenth and is our nation’s second Independence Day.
The next year, the freed people of Texas had the first of what would become an annual celebration and commemoration of Juneteenth. As Blacks moved to other states, the tradition spread across the country. Texas made Juneteenth an official holiday in 1979. Although Congress has still not made Juneteenth a national holiday, 47 out of 50 states recognize it as a state holiday.
Today, there is a significant trend to making Juneteenth a company holiday. It continues to grow in popularity, and celebrations sometimes take place all month long. People from across the country and all walks of life are joining in to acknowledge that time in history, which continues to profoundly impact the African American community today.
For more Juneteenth history, here is an excellent essay from 2013 on The Root, by Henry Louis Gates, Jr.: https://www.theroot.com/what-is-juneteenth-1790896900.
Sources:
National Museum of African American History and Culture:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/historical-legacy-juneteenth
History.com: https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth
Solano County has a Juneteenth Celebration at the county fairgrounds June 18–20! Tickets and event details here.
Update: June 17, 2021 President Biden signs law making Juneteenth a federal holiday.