On “Freedom’s Eve,” Dec 1, 1863, the 1st Watch Night services took place as Americans waited news of the Emancipation Proclamation. At 12 AM, unrestrained joy erupted—3.5 million enslaved souls were “thenceforward, and forever free!" Union soldiers rushed to spread news, but not all gained freedom. It took 2.5 years—June 19, 1865—JUNETEENTH—-for over 250,000 black Americans still held in bondage in TX to taste freedom.

1/15

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Following Antietam, Lincoln spent much of 1862 writing the Emancipation Proclamation, being lobbied by black leaders to include military service by black men, & to expand its scope.  While the Proclamation did not promise freedom to all enslaved people, it did provide a plan to free the enslaved people in the occupied territories of the South and to begin enlisting black men to fight in the Civil War. 

2/15

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It was well known that Lincoln would finally sign the proclamation on January, 1, so black Americans gathered in public where they could to await news of the signing.  On New Year’s Day 1863, Black Americans in Beaufort, SC, gathered to hear Col. Thomas Wentworth Higginson read the Emancipation Proclamation. He remembered the moment…I never saw anything so electric; it made all other words cheap…”

3/15

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In Boston, Frederick Douglass described the Watch Night in Boston waiting at Tremont Hall with others anticipating the document’s signing. As the night, wore on, anticipation grew as they awaited the long-awaited moment when the Proclamation would take effect on Jan 1, 1863. Douglass wrote that the passing minutes seemed to dampen their hopes, as the clock struck eight, nine, and then ten o'clock, without any word arriving.

4/15

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At last, a messenger pushed his way through the crowd, confirming the long-awaited news. Emancipation had arrived. 4 million souls freed! Jubilee! filled the air! Black Americans spilled out onto the streets, their joy overflowing. Shouts reverberated through the air, and even strangers embraced one another. Tears of relief streamed down many faces, while others bent their knees in grateful prayer.

5/15

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But in reality, the Emancipation Proclamation didn’t instantly free any enslaved people. The proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or rebel areas already under Union control. However, as Northern troops advanced into the Confederate South, many enslaved people fled behind Union lines.

6/15

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Actual emancipation took time. As the Union Army rolled into different regions of the South, they emancipated the enslaved people there. SInce this happened over time, each region had their own dates.  The enslaved people in the mid-Atlantic  recognize April 4 as their Emancipation Day, when abolition came to DC.  MS celebrated on May 8, in FL, May 22, AL & GA, May 28, MO, August 4, and KY & TN, August 8.  

7/15

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In Texas, slavery had continued as the state experienced no large-scale fighting or significant presence of Union troops. Many enslavers outside the Lone Star State moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery. After the war ended in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people.
Amendment to the Constitution

8/15

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The final emancipation from the Emancipation Proclamation happened on June 19, 1865 in Galveston Texas, two months after the surrender at Appomattox.  Commemoration of this date would become the celebration JUNETEENTH. Enslaved people in states that fought for the Union — Missouri, Delaware, Maryland, and Kentucky — did not become emancipated until December 6, 1865, with the passage of the 13th

9/15

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Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone—in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season—celebrations broke out among newly freed Black people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

10/15

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From 1865 forward, Black Americans gathered in TX every year to honor and celebrate freedom. These celebrations evolved into what is known as Juneteenth, but were also 'Jubilee Day' and 'Emancipation Day.’ Black Americans were prohibited from using public spaces to celebrate, so they collected money to purchase land to carry on the tradition. Emancipation Park in Houston, TX was purchased in 1872 for $1,000.

11/15


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Juneteenth became more than just a celebration of freedom. It became a way for families to reunite; a way for African Americans to organize politically, economically and spiritually; a way to educate and inspire future generation to come; and a way to show their pride, strength and resolve.

12/15

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In 1979, TX declared Juneteenth as a state holiday, setting a significant precedent. Presently, 45 states acknowledge or officially observe Juneteenth as a state holiday. Over the course of many years, activists and members of Congress, including numerous African Americans, tirelessly championed the cause, proposing legislation, rallying support, and striving for both state and national recognition.
14/15

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In response to passionate support from advocates and the Congressional Black Caucus, the Senate passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 15, 2021, with unanimous agreement. This act officially recognizes Juneteenth as a federal holiday. The House approved it on June 16. OnJune 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the bill into law, establishing Juneteenth as the 11th federal holiday in the US.

15/17

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This historic moment marks the first time a new federal holiday has been established since the designation of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

From modest origins in Texas, Juneteenth became a cherished celebration observed in cities and towns across the United States. This day commemorates freedom, Black America, accomplishments, promotes American democracy, & fosters reverence for diverse cultures.

14/15

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