Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom from slavery in the state of Texas. President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, but it only declared freedom for enslaved people in areas under Confederate control. The proclamation could not be enforced without military action.
Border states in the Union were not included in the Emancipation Proclamation. Maryland abolished slavery in 1864, Missouri and Tennessee followed in January 1865 and West Virginia followed in February 1865. Delware and Kentucky did not technically abolish slavery until the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified in December 1865.
Unlike the border states, Texas remained a Confederate stronghold. General Granger’s arrival in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 with over 2,000 U.S. soldiers allowed for enforcement of abolition. Granger’s order declared “absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor.”
Juneteenth started as a regional celebration and over generations expanded as a second “Independence Day” for Black communities throughout the U.S., including picnics, parades, music, dances and speeches. Texas became the first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday in 1980. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, answering calls from Black activists.
Yet some advocates say the United States does not have full abolition. The 13th Amendment allows for slavery and “involuntary servitude” to be used as “punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted.” Several states including Alabama, Colorado, Oregon, Tennessee and Vermont have passed laws ending forced prison labor. In November 2024, Nevada approved ending forced prison labor but California voters rejected a similar proposition.
“Understanding Juneteenth” presented by NBC News digital reporter Maya Eaglin and MSNBC correspondent Trymaine Lee break down how Juneteenth became a national holiday, its importance within American history and how they personally commemorate the celebration. NBCU Academy’s “Understanding” series breaks down the history, context and nuances behind cultural observances and days of remembrance throughout the year.
