Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in 2021, but its origins date back over 160 years.
On June 19th, 1865, 2,000 Union Troops marched into Galveston, Texas, declaring to the state's 250,000 slaves that remained in captivity that, legally speaking, they were already free. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in January of 1863, but the slaveowners in Texas withheld the news to keep them in forced labor.
Union General Gordon Granger announced General Order No. 3, saying, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” (See the full text of General Order No. 3 from the National Archives.)
June 19th came to be known as the true end of slavery in the Confederate United States. By the following year, Juneteenth was recognized in Black communities in Texas as a commemoration of the day they gained freedom, a memorial that passed on from generation to generation of Black Americans.
Juneteenth long remained an unofficial holiday. But gradually, it gained official recognition in certain states, first in Texas in 1980, followed by Florida, Minnesota, and Oklahoma in the 90s. Finally, in 2021, President Joe Biden signed an order declaring it a federal holiday.
Celebrating Juneteenth in New Orleans
Now, with federal recognition and for many, the day off, opportunities to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday have become more frequent.
For those in New Orleans, there are a handful of Juneteenth events on Thursday and over the weekend.
Juneteenth Fest in Congo Square (Thursday)
New Orleans Juneteenth Fest takes place in Louis Armstrong Park. Kicking off at noon and stretching into the evening, there will be a second line and a range of musical performances, food, and vendors. The event is free and open to the public.
Juneteenth Fest will also feature a ribbon cutting for a recently launched public art exhibit. The “Stories Of Us" exhibit features sculptures from Black artists, described as an experience that “through sharing their deeply personal stories, our incredible artists invite you to reflect on how far we have come as a nation to make the ideals of equality and solidarity a reality and, crucially, how far we still have to go and how we can get there.”
Lakefront Juneteenth Celebration (Thursday, 6 pm)
Attorney Juan Lafonta is hosting the Fifth Annual free Juneteenth celebration on the Lakefront. The event is free to the public and will run from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm. There will be food (including 400 pounds of crawfish and 100 pounds of Jambalaya), drinks, live performances, and fireworks to close out the night.
Voices Reclaimed: A Juneteenth Celebration (Thursday, 6 pm)
Mt Zion Baptist Church (2200 Dumaine Street, New Orleans, LA 70119) hosts the Voices Reclaimed: A Juneteenth Celebration, a free, public, interactive exhibit highlighting the legacy of Black composers in classical music.
Juneteenth Freedom Gala (Friday, 7 pm)
The Louisiana Afro-Indigenous Society will host a Juneteenth Freedom Gala at the Andre Callioux Center from 7-10 pm on Friday, June 20th. The event is “An immersive experience of Black Past, Present, and Future featuring a specialized menu with a combination of traditional and futuristic twists.”
Tickets for the event can be found here.
Juneteenth Jamboree (Saturday, 4 pm)
The Krewe of Athena is hosting a free family Juneteenth event in Harvey with food, drinks, guest speakers, health screenings, and a spades and dominoes tournament. The address is 4026 Post Dr, Harvey, LA 70058, USA.
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