Juneteenth: An Overview & Interesting Links
This Friday, June 19th, commemorates the ending of slavery in the US. On June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, enslaved African Americans were informed of their freedom, marking the end of the civil war and the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox, Virginia. The announcement, made by Union General Gordon Granger, set into place the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863.
Juneteenth is a time for celebration and reflection, and contemplation of race in our society in the past, present, and future. In cities across the country, people of all ages, races, nationalities, religions, and sexual orientations will join together to acknowledge this historical milestone. Georgia formally recognized Juneteeth in 2011, and some companies have declared it a holiday from work. In 2018, the US Senate passed a resolution designating June 19th as “Juneteenth Independence Day”, but this has not been through the House of Representatives to date.
For more information about Juneteenth, please see the New York Times article at https://www.nytimes.com/article/juneteenth-day-celebration.html
There are many activities planned around the Atlanta area this weekend. Visit http://www.juneteenthatl.com for more information about events.