Explore the History of June in 2 Minutes With This Video
Despite the fact that this year it is widely known to the public, the concept of “June Day” is not new. This day marks the end of the civil war and the liberation of enslaved black people throughout the Confederation, and has been celebrated for generations. June 20 is also not a “black holiday”, but an American holiday. Nowadays, corporations increasingly recognize June 19 as an official holiday and provide their employees with a day off. Attempts are also being made to declare it an official federal holiday .
So what is June?
The video above will tell you a short history of Juneteeth in two minutes. But in short, this day marks the events of June 19, 1865, when enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas, were informed by Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger that they were free. While we are celebrating this date, it is important to note that the enslaved black people have already been freed under the Emancipation Proclamation signed by Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 – two and a half years earlier.
The Emancipation Proclamation did not prohibit slavery in all states, but only in the Confederate states. In some union states, such as Kentucky and Delaware, legal slavery existed until December of that year. In addition, the 13th Amendment to the US Constitution still does not completely abolish slavery, because it is still allowed as a punishment for a crime.
General Order No. 3, read aloud by Major General Gordon Granger that day in 1865, read:
“The people of Texas have been informed that all slaves are free by order of the United States Executive. This presupposes absolute equality of rights and property rights between the former masters and slaves, and the bond that has existed between them until now becomes the bond between the employer and the employee. ”
The tenth of June was an occasion for joy and familiarity with the history of the enslaved black people – those who survived and those who did not. Today food, entertainment, and fashion are all included in the June holiday acts, as slaves were always given the worst cuts of food, they were not allowed many moments to celebrate, and they were forbidden to wear certain clothes and dress in certain ways.
Whether the June number is a common occurrence on your calendar or the first time you really realize it, make a bet to understand what is behind it. This should never be seen as another day off.