“And so what joins those two moments [of Juneteenth and nationwide protests] in my mind at least is both at its center, at its core, is a call for the recognition of black people as human beings whose lives matter.”. The new law celebrates Juneteenth, a day which commemorates the end to slavery and celebrates Black and African American freedom and achievements, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. This week, Virginia Gov. U.S. Post Offices will likely stay open because Juneteenth is not a federal holiday. Privacy Notice Sitemap "[Juneteenth] is a holiday jubilee, and there is nothing wrong with after so many years, almost a 150-something years, for African Americans to say, 'OK, we can now celebrate with … 52,138, This story has been shared 47,790 times. Donald Trump plans indoor rally as US states see record new cases, Michelle Obama's furious confession on racism exposed. Washington Monument struck by lightning as some claim it's a sign, Coronavirus shock: UK overtaken by country in COVID-19 death toll, Coronavirus: WHO warns deadly disease has hit one continent hardest, Fears second wave of deadly COVID-19 has already begun in US state. The reason why the news took so long to travel, and why slavery persisted in Galveston for more than two and half years after Lincoln ended the practice, isn’t clear. So far, Washington, D.C. and 46 states—not including North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, and Montana—have passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth, though it's still not a paid holiday where all workers are given the day off, like July 4. Which is why making Juneteenth a federal holiday is both urgent and necessary. Bloomsday celebrations: What is Bloomsday? Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. But Professor Noliwe Rooks, PhD, director of American studies and professor of Africana studies at Cornell University, said the delayed end to slavery was fueled by nothing but greed. This is the case for close to two dozen major law firms, that have announced work holidays on June 19—also known as Emancipation Day. Mastercard designated June 19 as a “Day of Solidarity” and urged workers to “pause and reflect” about all of the work left to do to “combat racism and discrimination.”, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Juneteenth will be. Newly freed slaves celebrated emancipation with “prayer, feasting, song, and dance” and the following year, the first official Juneteenth celebration was born, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. But while the majority of states observe the day, only a couple of states — outside of Texas — recognize it as a paid state holiday. Despite the lack of federal recognition, the holiday has lived on through rich traditions, including lively celebrations. Nearly all states recognize Juneteenth with some limited special status, but there have been calls over the years to make it a national holiday, Robinson, the Juneteenth.com founder, said. Federal holidays in the US act similarly to a bank holiday in the UK. 47,790, © 2021 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved J.B Pritzker has said he wants to make it a state holiday. “There were wire services, there were newspapers … the larger plantation owners were very wealthy and wealthy people have access to information,” the professor went on. Juneteenth is a step closer to becoming an official holiday in the City of Pittsburgh. Millions of people will mark the occasion again today, with events planned all over the country. Juneteenth is not a federal holiday, yet it’s recognized by Pennsylvania and 46 others states (along with the District of Columbia) as either a state holiday or observance. This is a running list of the companies promising to recognize Juneteenth, according to NBC: In the late 1860s and early 1870s, Juneteenth celebrations made their way through Texas and into neighboring states, according to the Congressional Research Service’s latest Juneteenth fact sheet. Andrew Cuomo made a similar announcement Wednesday when he signed an executive order recognizing June 19 as a paid holiday for state employees and said he will propose legislation to make it a permanent state holiday down the line. Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Your California Privacy Rights In some states, people employed by the state may have a day off work. Postmates has declared June 19 an official company holiday. Although not a federal holiday, Juneteenth is recognized either as a state or ceremonial holiday by 47 states, including Illinois, and Washington, D.C. Sign the national petition; Stand with Americans to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday within our federal government. June 18 June 18. Make Juneteenth a federal holiday | Opinion; The call for Juneteenth to be a national holiday is worth supporting. Gov. 52,334, This story has been shared 52,138 times. Terms of Use Juneteenth is one of America’s oldest holidays and is observed each year on June 19 to mark the official end of slavery in the US. Many schools don’t teach the history of Juneteenth and it is not recognized as a federal holiday. ", He added: "[Juneteenth] is a holiday jubilee, and there is nothing wrong with after so many years, almost a 150-something years, for African Americans to say, 'OK, we can now celebrate with the nation, our own jubilee.' Meanwhile, despite the fact that Juneteenth is not a federal holiday (although more and more people have begun to call for the day to be recognized nationally), some companies like Twitter, Nike and the NFL have announced they will make Juneteenth a paid company holiday, according to CNBC. "I think it is relevant today. Juneteenth is not a federal holiday. The first official Juneteenth celebration came the year after the liberation of slaves in Galveston, but it would take more than a hundred years for Texas to consider it a state holiday. Legend has it a messenger on horseback with news of freedom was murdered on his way to Texas, while other historians blame Galveston’s isolated nature as a barrier island on the eastern edge of Texas, and their limited access to communication. Juneteenth is a state holiday in New York and an official observance in almost all US states and in the District of Columbia. Jack Yates raised $1,000 to buy 10 acres of land in Houston that could be dedicated to Juneteenth celebrations and named the location Emancipation Park, according to the Houston Parks and Recreation Department. Juneteenth is among the oldest celebrations of emancipation and is certainly worthy of a Federal holiday. General Motors plans to hold an 8-minute, 46-second-long moment of silence in honor of Floyd, who was killed at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Juneteenth is not a federal holiday. Four Democrats have also announced a similar proposal. They were brutal and inhuman, but not ignorant.”. “It signified the true end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction, a time that was supposed to be very happy and hopeful but became a very miserable time as part of the redemption of the South to move African Americans to indentured servitude.”. It took roughly 18 years after the assassination of the Rev. at the moment. Since Juneteenth is not a national holiday, many leaders and companies across the United States recently announced they would celebrate June 19 as a paid company holiday. The Civil War was over and President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier, but the news hadn’t yet reached the most remote Confederate state. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Emancipation meaning: What does emancipation mean? For now, Juneteenth remains a holiday that each state in the country can decide whether to formally recognize. But 47 states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation recognizing it as a holiday or observance. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, announced Thursday he will introduce a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Google urged their employees to cancel unnecessary meetings and encouraged employees to “use this day to create space for learning and reflection.”. Martin Luther King, Jr. before his birthday was observed as a federal holiday. In 1980, Texas became the first state to officially designate a Juneteenth holiday. Sorry, we are unable to accept comments about this article “The idea that people in that part of Texas had no idea that the war was over is farcical, quite frankly,” Rooks told The Post, chuckling at the thought. Juneteenth, the traditional June 19 celebration of the end of slavery in the United States, will become a Massachusetts holiday under a bill passed by … Lawmakers and the public call for Juneteenth to be a federal holiday. Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June 19, the day the holiday takes place every year. Following Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s reluctant surrender at Appomattox, Virginia, to Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Granger was able to finally make his way to Galveston to enact Lincoln’s proclamation and free the last remaining victims of chattel slavery in the US. Over time, communities have developed their own traditions,” the report states. Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June and nineteenth) – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day – is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States.Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on the 19th of June throughout the United States, with varying official recognition. “This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”. Here’s some background on where the holiday … Juneteenth emerged 155 years ago to celebrate the end of slavery in America and the conclusion of a devastating civil war. In the United States, a federal holiday is a calendar date that is recognized and designated by the federal government of the United States as a holiday.Every year on a U.S. federal holiday, non-essential federal government offices are closed, stock market trading is usually suspended, and every federal government employee is paid for the holiday. Loudoun County supervisors voted to add a Juneteenth holiday to the calendar for public employees, and to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free,” the Union general read aloud to the residents of Galveston, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. Juneteenth 2020: Is Juneteenth a federal holiday? (CNN)Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of emancipation that has been celebrated in the African American community since June 19, 1865, should be a national federal holiday… It would be up to local government offices and private businesses whether to close or remain open. Why Juneteenth is still not a federal holiday, and what supporters are doing to change that. Making Juneteenth a federal holiday represents a step forward in the journey of healing America is still taking," Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said in a statement. His 1865 proclamation freed every African-American in the slave state, and Texas adopted Juneteenth as a holiday 115 years later in 1980. Molefi Kete Asante, chair of the Department of Africology and African American Studies at Temple University, said Juneteenth as a national celebration would be one for "all Americans". Juneteenth is not a federal holiday, but 46 states and the District of Columbia recognize it as a state or ceremonial holiday. The Juneteenth flag flies in Omaha, Nebraska. The Senate currently has before it a bill that would designate Juneteenth to the calendar of federal holidays. The only state which regards it as an official holiday is in Texas, where Union army general Gordon Granger issued the crucial federal orders to terminate the slave trade. While President Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery in his Jan. 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation, rebellious Confederate strongholds dotted across the South delayed the widespread implementation. The short answer is no.But if we consider recent events, Juneteenth could well be on its way to becoming one. For now, Juneteenth remains a holiday that each state in the country can decide whether to formally recognize. James Lankford of Oklahoma and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin are proposing that Columbus Day fade away as a federal holiday in order to make Juneteenth a day off for all federal workers. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation designating Juneteenth a public holiday in the state. Lyft said Juneteenth will be considered a companywide holiday effective Friday. New York Gov. June 19 th, or Juneteenth, marks the day in 1865 when, ... Loudoun employees now have now holidays than federal employees. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated annually on the 19th of June throughout the United States, with … Federal holidays include Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr Day and Independence Day. When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. On June 19, 1865, Union troops led by Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to break the news to the last remaining Confederate sympathizers that they’d lost the Civil War and all slaves must be freed. newspaper archive. Who is James Joyce? JPMorgan Chase plans to close all Chase branches early at 1 p.m. Friday in honor of the day. Gov. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. ... down more information on Juneteenth and shares why now more than ever it is time that our independence day receives recognition as a federal holiday… You can unsubscribe at any time. Even those holidays only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia, with states left to individually decide on their own legal holidays. 83,007, This story has been shared 57,498 times. Juneteenth. Juneteenth marks the June day in 1865 that Union soldiers told enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War had ended and they were free. Republican Senator John Cornyn, also of Texas, joined her, saying he would also introduce a bipartisan bill. 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All Rights Reserved, according to the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, renewed focus to the plight of black Americans, Best Presidents Day sales 2021: 32 huge deals from top brands, Nordstrom Rack takes up to 75% off clearance items for Clear The Rack sale, Best Presidents Day furniture sales 2021: 16 deals on beds, couches, more, Sephora takes 50 percent off top beauty products for Presidents Day sale, Best moisturizers for dry skin 2021: 29 expert-approved face products, Random act of kindness brings woman to tears, Best Buy announced employees will be offered a “paid volunteer day” for Juneteenth 2020 and in 2021, it will become a “formal, paid company holiday.”. A portmanteau of the date June 19, it marks the official emancipation of slaves in America (although we know now … “The importance of [Juneteenth] is that it’s kind of rooted in this long history of struggle to get freedom and then the efforts to maintain that freedom in the face of enormous repression that was going to come shortly after,” explained Columbia University Professor David Rosner, PhD. which you can comment on right now in our Comment section. Opal Lee isn’t giving up. J.B Pritzker has said he wants to make it a state holiday. Juneteenth will be one of 14 government holidays granted to all Cook County employees next year. "It's quite clear to me that the nation has rarely felt that black lives matter [and] whatever black people did or whatever happened to black people didn't really matter. Since then, 45 other states and the District of Columbia also recognized the day. Now, Google, Nike, The New York Times and the National Fooball League (NFL) are the latest among the growing list of private sector organisations in the US that are choosing to commemorate Juneteenth by giving their workers off. Now, as Black Lives Matter protests bring a renewed focus to the plight of black Americans, private companies have started to designate Juneteenth as a paid company holiday. Currently, there are 10 federal holidays each year, where federal employees are given a … GOP Sen. Ron Johnson Blocks Bill To Make Juneteenth A Federal Holiday. At the time, Galveston had its own newspaper, the Galveston Daily News, and a dispatch from New Orleans detailing the end of the war and the return of Confederate prisoners was published on June 3, 1865, more than two weeks before Granger arrived, according to archives accessible through Newspapers.com. As the debate surges yet again over whether Juneteenth ought to become a federal holiday, I can’t help but think of my mother. Express. Introduced June 15, this year it has more than 200 co-sponsors — and that’s not all: she also plans this week to introduce a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. At the peak of the anti-racism protests last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio declared that Juneteenth would become “an official city holiday,” commemorating June 19, 1865, a date marking the liberation of enslaved Black people in Texas. But moves to make Juneteenth a federal holiday have not been able to gain traction in Congress. Forty-five states recognize June 19th as an official or a ceremonial holiday. I want to read an op-ed from the Washington Post, written by the musician Usher, which I think eloquently sums up why it is not only important to honor this day as a Federal holiday, but it is also important to recognize it as a part of American history. "[Juneteenth] is a holiday jubilee, and there is nothing wrong with after so many years, almost a 150-something years, for African Americans to say, 'OK, we can now … - EXPLAINERWashington Monument struck by lightning as some claim it's a sign - ANALYSIS. George Washington's Birthday, now commonly known as Presidents' Day, was made a federal holiday in 1879 but is oddly never held on his actual birthday.The father of … However, you will find some great articles Cornyn releases his bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday after the death of George Floyd sparked renewed focus on the civil rights movement after … Juneteenth is the portmanteau of June and nineteenth and while it is not a federal holiday, it is recognised as a state holiday in over 45 US states. What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June and nineteenth) – also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, and Emancipation Day – is a holiday celebrating the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Thanks for contacting us. Today, Rooks said Juneteenth continues to be a day for jubilant celebrations. J.C. Penney told staffers Juneteenth will be considered an annual holiday for workers. So far, Washington, D.C. and 46 states—not including North Dakota, South Dakota, Hawaii, and Montana—have passed legislation to recognize Juneteenth, though it's still not a paid holiday … De Blasio is not alone in elevating June 19 in New York: In October, Gov. Not because it’s enough. Earlier this year, Governor Cuomo issued an Executive Order recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday for New York State employees. It is important to celebrate this day separate from July 4th, to highlight the fact that not … Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. (CNN) Juneteenth, the annual commemoration of emancipation that has been celebrated in the African American community since June 19, 1865, should be a national federal holiday. Google Maps: Woman stuck in painful position - how did this happen? Still, more workers than perhaps ever in history will have the day off on Friday: Nike, the NFL, Twitter and its mobile payments services company Square, along with a handful of media outlets, have announced plans to observe Juneteenth as a company holiday. The only four states yet to recognize Juneteenth as either a state or ceremonial holiday are Hawaii, North Dakota, South Dakota and Montana. We've received your submission. Texas, Virginia, New York, and Pennsylvania recognize it as an official paid holiday for state employees. A business owner puts up Juneteenth decorations in 1989. He said: "It would be a national celebration that all Americans could participate in, because our memories reinforce our values of who we are. Juneteenth is a 155-year-old holiday celebrating the emancipation of African-Americans from slavery in the U.S. Lawmakers have pushed for Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday. The day marking when the last slaves were freed can act as a ‘unifier,’ she says (Photos courtesy of Lee family; Paul Moseley/AP; iStock; Lily illustration) Soo Youn. “Texans celebrated Juneteenth beginning in 1866, with community-centric events, such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances. Though a growing number of U.S. companies are celebrating Juneteenth in 2020, the day that marks the ending of slavery is still not a federal holiday. “They were brutal people but they were the ruling class in the United States. An African American band at an Emancipation Day celebration in Austin in 1900. Black Americans have long celebrated Juneteenth, but it’s not a federally recognized holiday. This story has been shared 83,007 times. "I am incredibly proud to sign into law this legislation declaring Juneteenth an official holiday in New York State, a ... state were made aware of their right to freedom on this day when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with federal troops to read General Order No. Year after year, Americans wonder why Juneteenth—a celebration of liberty and the end of enslavement—is not a federal holiday while so many other historic moments are. The nation needs a day not just to honor and celebrate what many refer to as America’s second Independence Day, but it also needs a moment when each and every person can stop and reflect on the work that is yet to be done. Is it a federally recognized holiday? “You’ll see people with crowns on their head and they’re Miss Juneteenth and they’ve been voted on and crowned … people have carnival-like atmospheres, block parties, street vendors, it’s very much a celebration.”. So what is the significance of Juneteenth? While Juneteenth is not a federal holiday but a Texas holiday celebrated because it was the last state to end slavery, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Opal Lee, 93, has been fighting for Juneteenth to be a federal holiday. Juneteenth, the day that celebrates the emancipation of African Americans from slavery, is in the spotlight this year like never before. Amid nationwide demonstrations against police brutality, Rooks expects 2020’s celebration of Juneteenth will be marked by more protests and a renewed focus on the work that still needs to be done to advance black rights. The Wisconsin lawmaker says it would just cost too much. Juneteenth facts: What is the meaning of Juneteenth? Editorial: Why Juneteenth should be a federal holiday ... Target, Twitter and other companies) in making June 19 a holiday. Elected officials, corporations and sportsmen are the latest to offer their support to the movement, which has a spotlight on it this year due to ongoing protests for African American equality. While regarded as one of the most significant victories and society-shifting events in US culture, Juneteenth is not a federal holiday. For other uses, see Juneteenth (disambiguation). Stores, post offices, and other organizations and businesses are likely to be open as usual, but some may be closed or have restricted opening hours in some areas. They were elite, many were wealthy, they were not illiterate or backwards. Andrew Cuomo late Wednesday signed a … Juneteenth 2020: Black Lives Matter protesters have highlighted Juneteenth today, Juneteenth 2020: Sheila Jackson Lee has said she plans to table legislation for Juneteenth, Kim Jong-un: North Korea’s panic as regime ‘begins to topple’ exposed. It is part of the conversation about Black Lives Matter. “These past years of constant evidence of disparities in the African American community shows that the stain of slavery has not ended.". Who is James Joyce? “In the US at least, there’s a real grappling with what it meant and it what it continues to mean that so much of the economy in the US during a particular period of time was based on the enslavement of human beings and not acknowledging the humanity and calling us property that allowed slavery to flourish,” Rooks explained. The US Senate passed a resolution last year recognizing “Juneteenth Independence Day” as a national holiday, but it has not yet been approved in the House. In the case of Juneteenth, it demands we recognize our failure to deliver on the … Black Lives Matter demonstrations demanding reforms following the killing of 46-year-old George Floyd, and Juneteenth has entered the overall conversation. In Washington, the most senior Republican in the Senate said on Thursday that he would introduce a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. One such holiday is Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day or Freedom Day. However, many states won't celebrate it officially. It’s not a funeral, so people have cookouts and those kinds of things,” Rooks said. That's important.". Some on … Stand with Americans to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday within our federal government. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, Nevertheless, Juneteenth has been “passed down” through black communities ever since, Rooks said, and in 2020, at the height of a modern-day civil rights movement following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody, the holiday is seeing a renewed interest. If approved by Congress, the federal government would observe the holiday in parity with Idaho's existing recognition of the celebration. Rep Lee told the Huffington Post: “I cannot imagine this nation healing from the enormous and penetrating impact of race, racism and the history of slavery without officially acknowledging a day in the nation’s history that really speaks to freedom and independence for those who carried the burden of slavery. But because like the statues we erect and the holidays we decree, it demands we collectively declare and recognize shared values. Spotify will make Juneteenth a paid holiday for all employees. Juneteenth is not a federal holiday, but 46 states and the District of Columbia recognize it as a state or ceremonial holiday. However, we believe Juneteenth should be a federal holiday recognized and honored nationwide. Now she believes change really is coming. Now, at this moment of … It is. Content loading... A bipartisan effort to make Juneteenth a federal holiday failed in the Senate on Wednesday after Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) blocked it from advancing. Your Ad Choices In 2019, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution, naming “Juneteenth Independence Day,” as a national holiday, but it was not approved by the House. Millions of Government workers get a guilt-free day off, and private employers can decide whether they follow suit. The mayor and the unions have yet to hammer out the details of a plan — and Juneteenth still has yet to be made an official paid holiday, a City Hall spokesperson acknowledged to THE CITY. READ MORE: Donald Trump plans indoor rally as US states see record new cases. Uber employees will be given a paid day off. Since Texas adopted the holiday more than 30 years ago, calls to make Juneteenth a federal holiday have gained momentum. Glue as I do: Salon owner admits he’s been using Gorilla Glue on clients... Bam Margera seeking treatment after alarming 'Jackass' boycott videos, Bill Gates' daughter jokes on social media about getting COVID-19 vaccine, A-Train Ripper: Serial killer loose on subway, say cops. Juneteenth has been a state holiday … DON'T MISSMichelle Obama's furious confession on racism exposed - INSIGHTBloomsday celebrations: What is Bloomsday? In 2017, she embarked on a months-long journey that brought her to Washington, D.C., in an effort to make it happen. ALBANY - Juneteenth, a day that commemorates the end of slavery, is now an official public holiday in New York. Democratic Representative for Texas Sheila Jackson Lee is amongst officials who plan to introduce legislation making Juneteenth a national holiday. When Lee, a mother of four, as well as a grandmother and great grandmother, retired as a guidance counselor from the Fort Worth Independent … Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Juneteenth is different from Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which focuses on service.
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