Juneteenth!

 Juneteenth, What is it? What were people learning or wanting to know about Juneteenth?

There were lots of things people looked into about Juneteenth included asking if it was a national or federal holiday, Juneteenth shirts, variety of different questions or statements to learn about the history behind Juneteenth, there are even questions if certain government business were going to be open (for example if the mail was going to be delivered), few things about the OPM, and general questions about US government officials had to offer to Juneteenth. There were a few things that were asked once that I was fascinated to learn about more. Something interesting to learn about was the history of the quote, "those who chose the sea Juneteenth." In general, looking at everything related to Juneteenth made me more fascinated about the history behind why Juneteenth is being celebrated or recognized today and why it should be continued to be celebrated to be recognized every year. Although while researching about Juneteenth, I did learn more about it; I do know there is a lot more information about Juneteenth out there that I still have yet to learn. I am willing to continue to learn more about everything relating to Juneteenth. 

So what is Juneteenth? Juneteenth name comes from the date that is on which is June 19th, even though it is a known fact, better to clarify. Juneteenth is also one of the longest-running African American holidays according to a History Channel article written by Elizabeth Nix. In the same article, the reason it was and is celebrated is that all slaves were freed from all states on June 19, 1865. Texas was the last state to free all slaves. Why was that? It was because the Emancipation Proclamation, which was signed a little bit over two years beforehand did not necessarily include Texas within the wording. The wording of the Emancipation Proclamation stated overall that all slaves were free in the Confederate States due to them rebelling against the Union States. The wording did not include the Union States that were slave states or states on the border that had slaves, which included Texas. The Federal Troops had to come to Texas and ". . . U.S. General Gordon Granger stood on Texas soil and read General Orders No. 3: 'The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.'" (History Channel Elizabeth Nix).  Juneteenth also represents the ending of slavery not only in the entire United States but specifically the last place to have freed slaves in Galveston, Texas.

"For those who chose the sea." What is the story or history behind the quote? Eve Edwards wrote an article about the quote on The Focus. Edwards stated in the article that the quote represents those who were enslaved and jumped overboard during the Middle Passage.  

Here is a link tree to the websites sourced in this post as well as other websites as well: https://linktr.ee/learnabouthistory 

Here is a personal link tree everything social with the blog: https://linktr.ee/gabgrahamy