Juneteenth: What to know
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
-Nelson Mandela
As a PPG community, as a state, as a nation, as a world and as a human race, we are in a season of shaking, shifting, and transforming. As we grow through this time we are using education as a compass and a tool to better equip ourselves to handle everything being thrown our way with grace and confidence.
An old holiday has been receiving more attention this year than usual, Juneteenth (abbreviation for June Nineteenth), the longest standing African American holiday. You may have seen the recent PPG Instagram post that provided a condensed break down about this important and often overlooked holiday.
Slavery. One word, seven powerful letters. Slavery is a major part of American history and Juneteenth, which represents June 19, 1865, is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It is a day of celebration and recognition of a crucial turning point for the United States and American people.
You might be questioning the year 1865 and recalling the year 1863 as the year “slavery ended.” 1863 is the year that President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves in the states that were engaged in rebellion against the Union “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” However, it would be 2.5 years before ALL slaves were informed about this proclamation and honored with their freedom. On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that ALL enslaved people be freed. Texas became the first state to designate Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980.
With all this important and dense American history, it is hard to believe that to date Juneteenth is not a nationally recognized holiday. Barack Obama fought to get it signed into into law but it didn’t pass. As we asked on insta, could this be the year?
Happy Juneteenth!
This is more than a celebration, it is a call to action. We still have work to do.