Storyline
Origin
It all started during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862 which led to the freedom of Black slaves. It was not until the first anniversary in 1865 that the observance of June 19th became a holiday commemorating the African American Emancipation Day.
Announcement
History records the announcement by Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas. Thus, while President Abraham Lincoln‘s Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery in Texas, enforcement had been slow and inconsistent before Granger’s announcement
Today
While Juneteenth is an important milestone in American history, it is still an under recognized day in American history. We aim to change that. In 2020, the death of George Floyd coupled with a global pandemic gave way to the largest Juneteenth observation across America. Furthermore, many Fortune 500 brands are joining forces with organizations like ours in the efforts to make Juneteenth a national federal holiday and a day for Healing and Advocacy for Black Americans.