The Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately free enslaved people in 1863. The Proclamation applied only to Confederate controlled areas, but did not pertain to border states that still held slaves or Confederate areas currently under Union authority. It took two and a half years and the arrival of federal troops arriving in Galveston, Texas to “effectively end slavery.”
In Texas slavery had continued there due to had been no major conflicts or large Union troop presence in the area. Many enslavers made their way to Texas viewing it as a safe haven for slavery. After General Granger’s announcement on June 19, 1865, of “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” Texas’ 250,000 enslaved people were freed.
Celebrations began to break out among the newly freed and Juneteenth or Freedom Day was created. With the adoption of the 13th Amendment slavery in the United States of America was officially abolished.
Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday and in 2021 Congress established Juneteenth as a federal holiday.
Juneteenth celebrations utilize red symbolizing resilience and joy. The color is tied to cultures that came through the slave trade in later years such as the people of Yoruba and Kongo according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture. These peoples “placed great philosophical and spiritual value in the color red as it symbolizes sacrifice, transition, and power which translates into the custom of eating red foods on Juneteenth.
Juneteenth celebrations now are observed through “family cookouts, faith services, musical performances, and storytelling. Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement, while preserving history and community traditions.”
