June 19, 2025, marks the 160th anniversary of Juneteenth. Juneteenth is derived from combining “June” and “nineteenth.” Also known as Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, or Juneteenth Independence Day, this day commemorates the end of slavery in Texas, not the entire United States. Slavery officially ended when the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified on December 6, 1865.
Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order that ended slavery in the states rebelling against the Union, on January 1, 1863, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, did not learn of their freedom until June 19, 1865. That morning, General Gordon Granger arrived with General Orders No. 3, which liberated all enslaved Black people in Galveston.
The order recommended that people stay in place. However, during the Great Migration, many formerly enslaved individuals left Texas. They migrated in large numbers to the northern and western United States to pursue better job opportunities and escape racial injustice. Others searched for their loved ones who had been sold and separated from their families. Those who participated in the Great Migration brought these celebrations to the rest of the country.
On June 19, 1866, one year after General Orders No. 3 was announced, newly freed individuals organized Texas’s first annual Emancipation Celebrations. Initially, Juneteenth was celebrated in Galveston through churches, church picnics, and family gatherings. Freedom brought great joy, and Juneteenth was recognized with festivities that united families and communities. Over time, the celebrations expanded to include park parties, block parties, parades, music, barbecues, family reunions, festivals, Miss Juneteenth contests, and historical reenactments.
Some traditions include the public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, singing songs like “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and reading works by African American authors such as Maya Angelou and Ralph Ellison.
Red symbolizes many things, including resilience and the blood shed by our African ancestors. On Juneteenth, foods, drinks, and condiments associated with the color red include red beans and rice, red barbecue sauce on ribs and chicken, hot sauce, hibiscus iced tea, strawberry soda, red punch, watermelon, and red velvet cake.
Juneteenth is not just about food, fun, and games. Contemporary celebrations highlight the importance of teaching African American heritage. Some honor Juneteenth by supporting Black-owned businesses, while others explore their roots and cultural history. It serves as a day to learn about the significance of the Juneteenth holiday, including educational components and honoring our ancestors.
Initially, family reunions served to share stories and celebrate our ancestors’ journeys. Nowadays, family historians frequently offer pedigree charts and family group sheets for heads of households to complete, encouraging family members to write their own stories.
Do you have an ancestor who served in the Civil War as part of the United States Colored Troops (USCT)? You can research at FamilySearch.org and Fold3.com (subscription required). Consider visiting the African American Civil War Memorial Museum online at afroamcivilwar.org or in person in Washington, D.C. This museum honors the service of 209,145 African American soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War, offering exhibits, educational programs, and research services.
Opal Lee, known as the grandmother of Juneteenth, was one of the activists in the movement to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday. She walked across America, gathering more than 1.5 million signatures for her petition to the United States Congress. Although it was rejected, that did not stop her; she persisted. Each year, she walked 2.5 miles to represent the 2.5 years it took for the news of emancipation to reach Texas. She also walked from Fort Worth, her hometown, to Washington, D.C., departing in September 2016 and arriving in January 2017. At 94, her efforts succeeded when a bill was passed to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.
Legislation establishing Juneteenth National Independence Day was passed by Congress on June 16, 2021, and signed by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021. It became the second African American federal holiday in the USA, the first being Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
In 2024, President Joe Biden awarded Opal Lee the Presidential Medal of Freedom.