What Is Juneteenth and Why Is It Celebrated?
Juneteenth is the holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the US. The holiday was first celebrated in Galveston, Texas, whereas on that date in 1865, Union soldiers arrived and announced to enslaved people that the war was over, that slavery was abolished in the United States, and that they were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation that was issued more than two years earlier on January 1, 1863.
A mix of June and 19th, Juneteenth has become a day to commemorate the end of slavery In America and became a federal holiday in 2021. Organizations in a number of states and other countries use the day to recognize the end of slavery and to celebrate the culture and achievements of African Americans.
TOPEKA — Kansas will join 28 other states in recognizing Juneteenth as a state holiday, government officials announced Tuesday.
The holiday will be a paid day off for state employees in Gov. Laura Kelly’s administration. Kelly said the move was meant to recognize the state’s diversity and honor the nation’s history.
“Juneteenth marks a significant point in our nation’s history and has long been celebrated in Kansas and across the United States,” Kelly said. “Establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday provides Kansans an opportunity to celebrate our state’s diversity and honor the ongoing struggles for racial equality.”
Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, celebrates June 19 of 1865, when the last enslaved Americans received word that President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation. While Lincoln had issued the proclamation more than two years earlier, the news was received in different states at different times.
Juneteenth has been celebrated across the country for years, but the day wasn’t federally recognized until 2021, when President Joe Biden’s administration added it to the government holiday calendar.
Juneteenth is the first new federal holiday created in more than four decades. Since the federal move, many states have adopted the holiday, including Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado.
“I am thrilled that Juneteenth will be a state holiday,” said Stacey Knoell, Executive Director of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission. “This day is a perfect example of the importance of learning the full picture of history, not to cast blame but to find reasons for acknowledging resilience.”
The Salina Juneteenth Celebration Committee was formed in March of 2007 under the leadership of Jackie L. Anders. A committee was establish and the first celebration was
June 16-17, 2007. The Proclamation from the City of Salina was issued on June 11, 2007.
The committee continues to organize celebrations to promote African American culture and history for the community of Salina.
Mission Statement:
The purpose of the Juneteenth Celebration is to promote the elimination of racism and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African American history and culture.
