Many American’s do not know of this monumental day in History. On the night of January 1st, 1863, free and enslaved African Americans eagerly awaited the news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. By the stroke of midnight all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers traveled across cities and marched onto plantations in the south reading copies of the Emancipation Proclamation, telling the news that enslaved people were free. Although the 13th Amendment was not passed until 1865. Only through the 13th Amendment did Emancipation become a national policy.
Not everyone was immediately free in Confederate territory even though the Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect in 1863, it could not be implemented in places under Confederate control, such as Texas. Their freedom didn’t come until much later on June 19th 1865, which became known as Juneteenth by the newly 250,000 freed people of Texas.
In 2021, Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday. It acknowledges a day that should be recognized by all Americans. It celebrates freedoms, lives built, and people in our country.
For a more information about Juneteenth click here
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