Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom June 15, 2022 What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is an annual holiday, celebrated on June 19th, that commemorates the freedom of the enslaved in the United States. The name Juneteenth is a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth." Also referred to as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, Juneteenth is the oldest commemoration of its kind in the United States. Why do we celebrate Juneteenth? Juneteenth has become not only a time to commemorate Black liberation from the institution of slavery, but also an acknowledgment of the resilience, solidarity, and culture of the Black community. Juneteenth allows us all to join together to celebrate the freedoms and lives that generations before have fought bravely to secure. Juneteenth History Interview at Historic Stagville with United States Colored Troops reenactor, Bernard George During the American Civil War (1861–1865), emancipation was implemented in different places at different times. Emancipation became a well-known cause of celebration across the United States. Abraham Lincoln issued The Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, and it went into effect on January 1, 1863. The proclamation freed persons who were enslaved in "rebellious states." It was not until June 18, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the proclamation was issued, that the Union army arrived in Galveston, Texas. The next day, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers issued General Order No. 3, which informed Texans that enslaved persons were free. This news was met with celebration, but also defiance. Those who were formerly enslaved went to great lengths to claim and maintain their freedom in the days following the announcement. Juneteenth has been celebrated annually since then, and is recognized as one of the longest running holidays established by African Americans. The holiday spread throughout Texas, and spread to other states, honoring the end of slavery in the United States. The Outer Banks Liberation Story Prior to Juneteenth, African Americans created new lives in freedmen's communities like the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island. Following the island's occupation by Union troops in 1862, the area became a haven for African American families seeking freedom. Their presence prompted the Union army to establish a Freedmen's Colony on the northern end of Roanoke Island. Community members were able to experience their first taste of freedom and made tremendous strides in infrastructure and education. Freedmen's Colony History Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth on the Outer Banks Juneteenth is about freedom, liberation, and celebration. It is a holiday for North Carolinians to come together to foster connections that will continue to empower and uplift the community. Here are several ways you can celebrate Juneteenth on the Outer Banks. Attend the Juneteenth Sounds of Freedom concert at the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum on 6/19/22 at 5 p.m. Visit Roanoke Island Festival Park's Adventure Museum and Fort Raleigh to learn more about the Freedmen's Colony Visit African American museums and sites like the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum Support African American owned businesses Source: North Carolina African American Heritage Commission's Juneteenth Toolkit
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom June 15, 2022 What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is an annual holiday, celebrated on June 19th, that commemorates the freedom of the enslaved in the United States. The name Juneteenth is a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth." Also referred to as Emancipation Day and Freedom Day, Juneteenth is the oldest commemoration of its kind in the United States. Why do we celebrate Juneteenth? Juneteenth has become not only a time to commemorate Black liberation from the institution of slavery, but also an acknowledgment of the resilience, solidarity, and culture of the Black community. Juneteenth allows us all to join together to celebrate the freedoms and lives that generations before have fought bravely to secure. Juneteenth History Interview at Historic Stagville with United States Colored Troops reenactor, Bernard George During the American Civil War (1861–1865), emancipation was implemented in different places at different times. Emancipation became a well-known cause of celebration across the United States. Abraham Lincoln issued The Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, and it went into effect on January 1, 1863. The proclamation freed persons who were enslaved in "rebellious states." It was not until June 18, 1865, two and a half years after the signing of the proclamation was issued, that the Union army arrived in Galveston, Texas. The next day, on June 19, 1865, Union soldiers issued General Order No. 3, which informed Texans that enslaved persons were free. This news was met with celebration, but also defiance. Those who were formerly enslaved went to great lengths to claim and maintain their freedom in the days following the announcement. Juneteenth has been celebrated annually since then, and is recognized as one of the longest running holidays established by African Americans. The holiday spread throughout Texas, and spread to other states, honoring the end of slavery in the United States. The Outer Banks Liberation Story Prior to Juneteenth, African Americans created new lives in freedmen's communities like the Freedmen's Colony on Roanoke Island. Following the island's occupation by Union troops in 1862, the area became a haven for African American families seeking freedom. Their presence prompted the Union army to establish a Freedmen's Colony on the northern end of Roanoke Island. Community members were able to experience their first taste of freedom and made tremendous strides in infrastructure and education. Freedmen's Colony History Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth on the Outer Banks Juneteenth is about freedom, liberation, and celebration. It is a holiday for North Carolinians to come together to foster connections that will continue to empower and uplift the community. Here are several ways you can celebrate Juneteenth on the Outer Banks. Attend the Juneteenth Sounds of Freedom concert at the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum on 6/19/22 at 5 p.m. Visit Roanoke Island Festival Park's Adventure Museum and Fort Raleigh to learn more about the Freedmen's Colony Visit African American museums and sites like the Pea Island Cookhouse Museum Support African American owned businesses Source: North Carolina African American Heritage Commission's Juneteenth Toolkit
