Photo:Mr. D.N. Leathers Sr., Walter Leathers’ Father Celebrating Juneteenth, Corpus Christi, Nueces County, Texas, June 19, 1913
Today, we’re diving into the real story of Juneteenth, a day most of us hadn’t heard of before the Biden Administration made it the latest federal holiday. Let’s unpack the history of what happened.
Picture this: June 19, 1865, Galveston, Texas. Union General Gordon Granger rides into town and issues General Order No. 3, declaring all enslaved people in Texas were free. This was two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Why the delay? Texas was a remote Confederate stronghold. News didn’t travel fast like it does today, and frankly many slaveholders deliberately kept the news secret to maintain control. That day, known as Juneteenth, marked a turning point — the first time the order was enforced in Texas, the last Confederate state with institutional slavery.
For many slaves, Juneteenth was their first taste of liberty. Freedmen in Texas began celebrating with church services, barbecues, and community gatherings—traditions that spread and grew into other states and regions over time. By the early 1900s, Juneteenth events had been documented in places like Oklahoma, Louisiana, and even California. Milwaukee and Minneapolis saw growing celebrations by the mid 20th century, and by 1980, Texas made it a state holiday. Other states slowly followed suit.
Fast forward to 2021—Juneteenth becomes a federal holiday, pushed by radical activists and the 2020 racial justice protests. For some, it’s a moment of pride. For others, a moment of debate and DEI. For others still, it was simply an opportunity to pander. Even among those who see it, rightly so, as a politically correct move from the Biden Administration to gain favor in the leftist wing of the party and the black community, we can appreciate and celebrate its roots. The abolition of slavery is deeply intertwined with the legacy of the Republican Party. So, whether you celebrate this day as a meaningful milestone for America or see it as political performance, know the history behind it—and be ready for robust American discussion and debate.
This post originally appeared at https://phyllisschlafly.com/family/race-relations/the-real-history-of-juneteenth/