A History of Juneteenth in Texas
Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating 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 present 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.
The celebration of June 19th was coined “Juneteenth” and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.
A Gallery of Juneteenth Images
A History & Celebration of Juneteenth
On June 19, 2019 the Dallas Historical Society hosted the South Dallas Concert Choir for a concert covering the history, impact and celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.
Related Articles
On Juneteenth
Historian Examines The ‘Hope’ And ‘Hostility’ Toward Emancipation
By Annette Gordon-Reed, Fresh Air with Terry Gross, May 2021
CLICK HERE to listen to this interview
Let Freedom Ring
How Juneteenth Brought Emancipation to Enslaved People in Texas
By Michael Hurd, Texas Highways, June 2020
CLICK HERE to read this article
Juneteenth
By Teresa Palomo Acosta, Handbook of Texas Online, June 10, 2020
CLICK HERE to read this article