It has been three years since Juneteenth became an official U.S. holiday, signed into law by President Joe Biden. That June 17 in 2021 was a historic moment, marking the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. Many saw this as a significant step toward acknowledging America’s original sin of slavery and the long journey toward equality. Yet, the real history of Juneteenth is complex and often misunderstood, marked by persistent sabotage of Black freedom – then and now.
There is no shortage of Black Texans celebrating the holiday, but many people are now questioning what exactly are we celebrating, should we be celebrating it at all, is Juneteenth an indictment of America, a repudiation of the Fourth of July, or both?
The day freedom arrived in Texas
Across America, many people think there were just a bunch of clueless Blacks toiling away on plantations in Texas, with no idea they were free, when Major General Gordon Granger sailed into Galveston in June 1865. The general arrived with 2,000 troops to Galveston, which at the time, was the most populous city in Texas, and held a bustling port largely managed by Black workers.
Granger arrived to bring the news that the slaves had been freed, a proclamation that came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had officially freed slaves in Confederate states on January 1, 1863. Granger and his staff took over a villa in town and embarked on the daunting mission of imposing order and security in Texas, the largest secession state in the newly restored Union. The atmosphere was tense, with the state still reeling from the Civil War’s devastation.
Peniel E. Joseph, the Barbara Jordan chair in ethics and political values and founding director of the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, says the truth of what happened that day is actually way more complicated.
“Blacks in Galveston, working on wharves heard news of freedom long before Major General Gordon Granger arrived,” Joseph said. “Confederates fleeing cities, towns and states such as Louisiana and Georgia transported thousands of enslaved Black people to Texas, the state where the final battles of the Civil War were fought as late as May of 1865, a month after Robert E. Lee’s surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia.”
The exact manner in which General Order No. 3 was conveyed varies, but it is believed that Granger read it aloud in a public meeting to reach as many people as possible. The proclamation that “all slaves are free” was a declaration of independence for some and a provocation for others.
The illusion of freedom
General Order No. 3 declared the freedom of the formerly enslaved. However, it also advised the newly freed people to remain at their present homes and work for wages. The order’s language suggested a transformation from slavery to a nebulous form of wage labor, without addressing the practicalities of true freedom. Could Black Texans leave the plantations, travel, reunite with family, or become entrepreneurs and landholders? The order did not provide clear answers.
The order warned against flocking to military posts, where Black men and women had sought refuge, employment and assistance since 1863. The sight of Union soldiers often symbolized hope and protection for freedmen. Yet, Granger’s warning implied that Black Texans could not rely on federal troops for support, suggesting that they were expected to fend for themselves despite their newly granted freedom.
The romanticized narrative
For too long, the narrative of Juneteenth has been romanticized, both in Black and white communities. The common story that Black Texans were unaware of their freedom until Granger’s arrival oversimplifies the reality, Joseph says. The real issue was the practical enforcement of these new freedoms in a state still controlled by Confederate sympathizers.
Granger’s troops faced a violent, anxious and vengeful white population, including Confederate soldiers and sympathizers who engaged in attacks and looting across Texas. Texas, being the most remote of the slave states, was a final stronghold for those who sought to maintain the institution of slavery.
The persistent sabotage of Black freedom
The history of Juneteenth is not just about the celebration of freedom but also about the relentless efforts to undermine it. From the vague promises of General Order No. 3 to the systemic racism that followed, Joseph says that Black freedom has been persistently sabotaged.
“The teaching of this history is crucial, especially as it faces contemporary attacks. Understanding Juneteenth means recognizing both the progress made and the continuous struggle for true equality,” he said.
The significance of Juneteenth
Juneteenth represents the end of a brutal chapter in American history, where the fight for freedom and equality was hard-fought and hard-won. It also highlights the resilience and perseverance of African Americans who, despite systemic oppression, continued to strive for freedom and justice.
It also serves as a reminder of the importance of federal action in enforcing civil rights and the ongoing struggle against racial inequality. The fact that freedom did not come until Union troops intervened underscores the critical role of governmental enforcement in civil rights progress.
A complex legacy
Despite its recognition and celebration, the legacy of Juneteenth is complex. For many, it is a day of joy and pride, but it also serves as a reminder of the persistent inequalities and injustices that African Americans continue to face.
The systemic issues that delayed the realization of freedom for enslaved people in Texas are reflected in modern struggles for racial equity. It is a day to acknowledge the ugliest truths of American history and celebrate the relentless pursuit of a more perfect union.
“Progress is real, and it deserves recognition, but it should not overshadow the struggles that persist. Juneteenth teaches us that history is not just about triumphs but the relentless efforts to achieve them,” Joseph said.
The ongoing fight for justice and equality, from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s to the Black Lives Matter movement today, echoes the historical significance of Juneteenth. The holiday prompts reflection on how far America has come and how far it still has to go in addressing racial disparities in education, healthcare, criminal justice and economic opportunity.
“Commemorating the lives and legacies of enslaved people who defiantly loved a nation that refused to love them back offers us a renewed opportunity to build a new consensus around American citizenship and democracy,” Joseph said. “Juneteenth’s deeper history is more inspiring than the story we have been popularly told.
“The cracks in our national history, the divides in our attempts to recount this story to our children and our children’s children, tell the story of a democratic experiment that Black Texans helped progress through unenviable circumstances in the aftermath of a catastrophic civil war. And in doing so they bequeathed a legacy of Black Texans celebrating a kind of freedom beyond emancipation, one that could usher in a new era of multiracial democracy.”
