Celebrate Juneteenth: An Important Day of Remembrance in American History

Every June 19th, we celebrate Juneteenth (June plus nineteenth). It marks the date in 1865 when enslaved Texans learned they would be free - 2 1/2 years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is more than an observance of freedom, it is a time to recognize the challenges those who fight injustice have always faced.

With each attempt to bring justice and equality to all people, there is often backlash. As partners in the fight for equality and justice, our union movement knows this all too well. The Emancipation Proclamation was no different. Slave owners deliberately hid the news and some people taking advantage of their freedom were met with terror or even death.

Despite all this, formerly enslaved people made the celebration an annual ritual beginning in 1866. It is a day that Black communities come together to celebrate and remember their ancestors fight for freedom. Texas declared Juneteenth an official holiday in 1979 and the United States declared it a federal holiday in 2021. 

Our union believes that it's important to share the stories - including the setbacks - of people and movements fighting for equality for future generations. We can all learn about this important date in American history.

We've assembled some videos, articles and more for you and your family to learn about Juneteenth:

Caitlin Blair