Juneteenth is an important holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. after the Civil War. Many events are held across the U.S. in celebration of Juneteenth. Below you will find a short history of Juneteenth and information about how you can get involved as an SRTS champion in your community.
History
Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863 proclaiming enslaved people in Confederated States were free, it was not applied in places still under Confederate control. In the Confederate state of Texas, freedom did not come until June 19, 1865. On that day Union Troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced over 250,000 enslaved black people were free. The freed people in Texas called this day “Juneteenth.”
During the post-emancipation period, African Americans became entrepreneurs, ran for office, advocated for legislation, and sued former slaveowners.
Juneteenth is considered the United States’ second Independence Day. Unfortunately, many Americans don’t know about this event. Hopefully, we can begin to change that.
How to Get Involved
- Learn the history
- The Library of Congress is a great place to start
- Volunteer or attend a local Juneteenth event in your community
- Local newspapers, magazines, news stations, or a quick search on the internet will give you a good idea of what events are taking place in your community
- Table during a Juneteenth event to share helpful walking+rolling tips
- Support Black-owned businesses
Have a wonderful Juneteenth! Please share your story and pictures by emailing info@oregonsaferoutes.org if you celebrated.