What is Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. Note that this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation - which had become official January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation had little impact on the Texans due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. However, with the surrender of General Lee in April of 1865, and the arrival of General Granger’s regiment, the forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.
Like other special days of freedom, July 4th, V-Day, etc, Juneteenth (or June 19th), this day marks the day that the last slave of America was told of the news that all that were enslaved were free. For many, this is a special day, and out of respect, that is great. For a lot of people, this is actually the first time you have heard of this.
There is no reason to get upset, or even mock this - for every race, or ethnicity, there is a day that people find special. Respect.
