The WashUMed Office of Diversity\, Equity and Inclusion is proud to commemorat e Juneteenth! We recognize the stories of triumph\, bravery\, resilience an d contributions made by the African American community. On Juneteenth\, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity\, anti-racis m\, equality\, and justice. As we reflect and celebrate on Juneteenth\, we keep in mind the ways in which structural racism continues to impact co mmunities of color in the United States and are mindful of the importance o f equity in all spaces!
Juneteenth is t he oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in t he United States. From its Galveston\, Texas origin in 1865\, th e observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spre ad across the United States and beyond.
The holid ay is also called “Juneteenth Independence Day\,” “Freedom Day” or “Emancip ation Day.”
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In reality\, the Emancipati on Proclamation didn’t instantly free any enslaved people. The pro clamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave -holding border states.
Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases\, e nslavers withheld the information—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people\, and Juneteenth was born. In Missouri\, a state cons titutional convention held on January 11\, 1865 declared slavery illegal bu t did not extend voting rights to Black Missourians. That December\ , slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment\, the 14th Amendment provides citizenship\, due process and equal protection\; and the 15th Amendment provides the oppo rtunity to vote and hold office.
Today\, Juneteenth commemorates African
American freedom\, emphasizes education and achievement. It is a d
ay\, a week\, and in some areas\, a month marked with celebrations\, guest
speakers\, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflecti
on and rejoicing.
Juneteenth is the first new federal holiday
approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. This y
ear\, the Juneteenth federal holiday will be observed in the U.S. on