Juneteenth is a monumental day for the African American community, yet many Americans are not aware of the history and importance behind Juneteenth.

Juneteenth: How you can celebrate

In 1863, then-President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”

This was an incredible advancement for enslaved people. But in reality, the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t instantly free any enslaved people.

It took months and, in some areas of the U.S. years, for word to travel to the people. Unaware of their freedom, thousands of enslaved African Americans continued to forcibly work and live in inhumane conditions. This was the case in Texas.

In 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, slavery had remained relatively unaffected in Texas. Many enslavers from outside of Texas had moved there because they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery.

On June 19, 1865, federal troops led by U.S. General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, stood on Texas soil and read General Orders No. 3: “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

General Granger’s arrival and proclamation freed over 250,000 enslaved people.

It’s important to note that this proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or rebel areas already under Union control. But, as Northern troops moved into the Confederate South, many enslaved people fled behind Union lines.

Emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone. Many enslavers withheld the info until after harvest season. In spite of this, celebrations broke out among newly-freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born.

That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13^th Amendment. The following year, freedmen in Texas organized the first of what become the annual celebration of “Jubilee Day” on June 19.

In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities. As Black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread.

In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Forty-seven states currently recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday.

In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish and County Council voted to make Juneteenth a paid holiday for County workers. Employees are encouraged to use this day to recognize the end of slavery and to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans.