Juneteenth: What it is, and Why It Still Matters to Civil Rights Activists today?

This week, Sunday, in fact, is both Father’s Day and Juneteenth, although the official holiday will be celebrated on Monday, June 20, 2022. Thus, I thought it would be a good idea to write about Juneteenth’s importance and relevance today for Civil Rights Activists, Civil Rights Attorneys, and Social Entrepreneurs.

What is Juneteenth?

In order to best understand Juneteenth, you have to understand slavery, and the Civil War. As an initial matter, American chattel slavery, began approximately in 1619, and continued in many ways unabated through the establishment of this nation, and the enactment of the U.S. Constitution. But in the Civil War, when many southern states rebelled and seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America, the President of the United States of America, Abraham Lincoln, made the decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This was an executive order declaring that the enslaved Africans currently in the areas that were in rebellion (the Confederacy), were freed. (Although Lincoln’s primary purpose in doing so was to save the Union, not to free the enslaved Africans.) This Order went into effect on January 1, 1863. Nevertheless, as was the case during that time, the enslaved Africans were not truly freed, until the Union Army arrived to enforce the Order. Such was the case on June 19, 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX and announced the end of the Civil War with Union victory, and read General Order No. 3, which provided that enslaved persons were now free based on the Emancipation Proclamation. As a result, the formerly enslaved Africans celebrated this date beginning in Texas, in 1866, and continuing until today, where there is now a national holiday commemorating their triumph over slavery.

Why it Still Matters to Civil Rights Activists Today?

There are many lessons that activists today can glean from Juneteenth. First, it is the culmination of many years of activism, by enslaved Africans, and others. All the way back to challenges in the Courts, with Dred Scott seeking freedom for himself and his family, down, to activists, and advocates, like Frederick Douglass, speaking so eloquently about the atrocities of slavery, placing the abolition of slavery on the national agenda, and encouraging President Lincoln and lawmakers to end it. As well as such enterprising individuals as Harriett Tubman, leading her people to freedom through the Underground Railroad. Even to the Civil War, and the over 180,000 African men, many of them formerly enslaved that fought for their own freedom, in the Civil War. All these efforts, by activists, attorneys, social justice engineers, seeking the same goal, which was eventually realized in one of most stunning turn of events in this nation’s history. Not only was the Emancipation Proclamation issued, but later, almost six months after that first Juneteenth, the 13th Amendment, was ratified at the end of 1865, abolishing American chattel slavery as it existed at that time.

Thus, Juneteenth represents proof that civil rights activism is transformative, and that it can change the course of a people and a nation for generations to come.

So on this Juneteenth, if you are a civil rights activist, civil rights attorney, or social entrepreneur, know that you are standing on the shoulders of greatness that came before you, and you are continuing a proud tradition of civil rights activism. Be encouraged, uplifted, and rejuvenated on this Juneteenth.

For additional resources on Juneteenth, let me recommend, reading, Professor Annette Gordon-Reed’s On Juneteenth. In addition, the federal law declaring Juneteenth as a Federal Holiday, can be found here. Furthermore, there are many activities and celebrations that have been planned to commemorate Juneteenth, some of which can be found here.

Remember, if you would like some support in your career as a civil rights activist, civil rights attorney, or social entrepreneur, visit us at civilrightsuniversity.com, and sign up to receive our free newsletter that has resources that you will find helpful. You will also be notified of any new or upcoming courses that we offer or other products and programs that you are interested in.

As always, until next time, go forth in your activism.

Brian