On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to share the proclamation with enslaved African Americans living in that state, which numbered more than 250,000, that they were free and should be treated has hired workers. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, a full two years prior to the arrival of Granger in Texas, there were still many slaves who were not freed by slave owners even after 1865. Many slave owners did not free their slaves until after the follow harvest and others still not until ordered to do so by a government representative.
Juneteenth, the oldest national observation of the end of slavery in the US, was first celebrated in Texas on June 19, 1866. It has since grown widely across the United States. Also known by several other names including Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, and Liberation Day, Juneteenth is a celebration of African Americans’ freedom from slavery. It’s a time for celebrating both the abolishment of slavery and the African American culture and is celebrated in many ways such as religious gatherings, music, arts and crafts, food, and much more.
In 2021, Senate unanimously approved a bill that made Juneteenth a legal federal holiday. Texas was the first state to make it a legal holiday in 1980 and since then, only eight additional states had followed suit.
The Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, in collaboration with The University of Northern Colorado, and sponsored by PDC Energy, invite you to attend and enjoy the first ever Juneteenth Celebration on Friday, June 17 at the Marcus Garvey Cultural Center. This year’s theme, Juneteenth: A Family Reunion, was created to serve as a space and time where Black Northern Coloradans can come together to celebrate liberation while also honoring a legacy of sacrifices made while working towards freedom. Everyone is invited to attend and enjoy food, games, vendor fair, and more.
Take Action:
- Juneteenth Reading List
- Children & Youth Resources
- Social Media Toolkit
- Read, Watch, Listen, Do Resources
- Eventbrite: Juneteenth Poetry Celebration
- Attach the Juneteenth design element to your email signature and social media
For additional education and personal development related to diversity, equity and inclusion, the following resources are available: DEI Education and Resources, DEI & Antiracism Resources from the UNC Libraries, the Education Equity Toolkit from the Colorado Department of Higher Education, and the UNITE workshops for faculty, staff, and students.
