Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation to ensure that those enslaved were freed.
Texas had been the last of the Confederate states where enslavement continued. Before the arrival of these troops, residents had no idea that slavery in the United States had been abolished. Afterward, residents celebrated with prayer, feasting, song and dance—a continued tradition. Juneteenth is now recognized as the oldest national celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.
2022 will mark the second year Juneteenth has been an official federal holiday. Last year, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day, added in 1983. This year it will be observed on Monday, June 20.
People of all races, religions and nationalities will unite to acknowledge the enslavement of Blacks in America and celebrate the culture and countless ways in which they have contributed to the nation. Juneteenth celebrations will include speeches, educational events, family gatherings, picnics and music festivals.
UDC’s first Annual Juneteenth Celebration was held at the UDC Little Theater and Courtyard on June 19, 1999. The event honored the African Ancestors who crossed the Middle Passage and was a special celebration for those who chose not to make the journey into the unknown life that awaited them.
The celebration commenced with African drumming on the Plaza, continuing into the Courtyard and the Little Theatre. African dancers from Senegal and drummers from the Ivory Coast performed. The drums of fire, rappers, poetry, song, drama and storytelling took place from 12 p.m. until 9 p.m. It was a cultural celebration that brought families out to enjoy a day of love, tribute and remembrance for long-awaited freedom.
According to UDC President Ronald Mason, Jr, Juneteenth is also a time for reflection.
“Juneteenth holds extraordinary significance for African Americans and UDC as a historic Black university,” Mason said. “It is time for reflection and a time for rejoicing. We reflect on how we got here and can continue dismantling the systemic racism that Black people face daily. We rejoice in that we, as a nation, have come a long way. The University continues to be dedicated to educating our future leaders so that they will be able to elicit change for the betterment of our nation.”