Juneteenth is a holiday that marks the day, on June 19, 1865, when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. You may also hear it called Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, Second Independence Day or Emancipation Day. The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, had established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” However, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control.
On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed…2.5 years AFTER the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The announcement came two months after the effective conclusion of the Civil War, and even longer since President Abraham Lincoln had first signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Many enslaved Black people in Texas still weren't free, even after that day.
Activist Ben Haith, also known as Boston Ben, is credited as the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, and he designed the Juneteenth flag in 1997. The red, white and blue represents the American flag, a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans. The white star in the center of the flag represents both Texas, the Lone Star State, and also the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states. The bursting outline around the star is inspired by a nova (new start), a new beginning for all. The curve that extends across the width of the flag represents a new horizon with the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for Black Americans. The blue above and the red color below is symbolic of the ground soaked with the blood which was shed by the African American slaves for the United States
The national reckoning over race, ignited by the 2020 murder of George Floyd by police, helped set the stage for Juneteenth to become the first new federal holiday since 1983, when Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created. Since Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, 28 states (including Alabama) and Washington, DC have given the day off for all state government workers, and UAB designated it an institutional holiday in 2022.
Juneteenth celebrations typically include cookouts, family gatherings or church events. It is also a great opportunity to engage in activism and education about racial disparities and to support black-owned businesses. Despite racially motivated stereotypes about popular food items such as watermelon, red velvet cake and red drinks that are typically part of celebrations, the cultural and historical significance actually relates to the color red. Red symbolizes the ingenuity and resilience of a community in bondage and the red food and drinks included in Juneteenth celebrations have African or Black American origins (e.g. red drinks originated from a red hibiscus tea called bissap from West Africa).
And just as many people learn what Juneteenth is all about, the holiday’s traditions are facing new pressures — political rhetoric condemning efforts to teach Americans about the nation's racial history, companies using the holiday as a marketing event, or people partying without understanding why. You can share in observing Juneteenth by educating yourself, participating in meaningful conversations where you're truly listening, and sharing this information with others in your life who may not know the history of this holiday. Our hope in spreading information like this is that when we know better, we will do better. For information on Juneteenth events around Birmingham and other areas in Alabama that you can take part in this year, visit https://www.al.com/life/2023/06/juneteenth-celebrations-planned-across-alabama-ahead-of-monday-holiday.html.
We invite anyone in the DOP interested in opportunities to learn and promote positive change in our department to join our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Advocacy Council (IDEAA, formerly the DEI Council) which meets every 3rd Wednesday from 4:30-5:30 pm. Our next meeting will be June 21st, 2023 and you can contact the co-chairs, Drs. Morissa Ladinsky and Chrystal Rutledge for more information. You can also join Thursday Thoughts on Zoom to participate in conversations surrounding justice and equity on the first Thursday of every month at 7:30 AM.
This is a summary of Dr. Hope Wilson’s DIME (Diversity and Inclusion Microlearning Experience) presentation at June’s Faculty Meeting on the History of Juneteenth.