On June 19, 1865, freedom finally reached the final stronghold of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth commemorates that crucial day, marking the moment when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to deliver the news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free.
Though President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation more than two years earlier— on January 1, 1863— its enforcement depended chiefly on the presence of Union troops. Isolated by geography and loyal to the Confederacy, slavery continued practically unchecked in Texas. Enslavers from across the region had even relocated there, in hopes of avoiding Union enforcement.
That changed in June 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and read General Order No. 3 which declared, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” His comuniqué set free an estimated 250,000 African Americans in Texas and set forth the true recognition of emancipation throughout the nation.
In 1866, freed communities in Texas began commemorating the occasion with prayer services, gatherings, music, and food, establishing the groundwork for what we now know as Juneteenth celebrations. As Black Texans carried these traditions with them throughout the country, the observances began to spread nationally.
In recent years, Juneteenth has gained extensive recognition. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, prompting the eleventh federal holiday and the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.
Closer to home, Utah took a significant step forward. In March, 2021, Governor Spencer Cox signed a bill designating June 19 as Juneteenth National Freedom Day and in 2022 declared Juneteenth as a state Holiday.
Today, Juneteenth stands as a profound symbol of Black independence and resilience. It reminds us not only of a delayed promise fulfilled, but also of the ongoing struggle for justice and equality. Juneteenth is more than a historic date, it’s a call to remember, reflect, and recommit to building a more inclusive future.
