What does Juneteenth symbolize?

What is Juneteenth? It’s a symbolic date representing African American freedom from slavery. … On June 19, 1865, two and half years after

the Emancipation Proclamation

was signed, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery.

Why is Juneteenth so important?

Juneteenth, or “Freedom Day” is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. This holiday is considered the “longest running African-American holiday” and has been called “America’s second Independence Day.” It was on June 19, 1865 that Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen.

What is Juneteenth and why is it celebrated?

Known to some as the country’s “second Independence Day,” Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of enslaved people in the United States at the end of the Civil War. For more than 150 years, African American communities across the country have observed this holiday.

What is wrong with Juneteenth?

The problem is that it’s the wrong date. The last of the slaves were not freed on Juneteenth. Juneteenth represents June 19, 1865 — the date Union soldiers arrived in Texas to announce that the Civil War was over, and slavery had been abolished. … It specifically notes the end of slavery in Texas.

What states do not recognize Juneteenth?

According to the Congressional Research Service, a government body that provides research to inform lawmakers, South Dakota is the only US state that does not have a law to mark the celebration of Juneteenth. The most recent states to add a law recognizing the holiday are Hawaii and North Dakota.

Is it OK to say Happy Juneteenth?

Just say ‘Happy Juneteenth! ‘ The easiest way to wish someone a Happy Juneteenth is by messaging them and wishing them a fulfilled day. Similar to Black History Month, and other important anniversaries to Black Americans, it is important to acknowledge it as an American holiday, even if you do not celebrate it.

What did slaves do when they were freed?

Freed Persons Receive Wages From Former Owner

Some emancipated slaves quickly fled from the neighborhood of their owners, while others became wage laborers for former owners. Most importantly, African Americans could make choices for themselves about where they labored and the type of work they performed.

What did slaves get when they were freed?

Freed people widely expected to legally claim 40 acres of land (a quarter-quarter section) and a mule after the end of the war. Some freedmen took advantage of the order and took initiatives to acquire land plots along a strip of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida coasts.