On this day 160 years ago, Union soldiers arrived in Texas and announced the freedom of the last enslaved Black people in the country. Two years earlier, the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued, but it did not immediately grant freedom. Instead, it depended on the Union’s victory in the Civil War. After their triumph on April 9th, an additional two months passed before more than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were formally notified on June 19th, 1865.
This day came to be known as Juneteenth—a combination of the words June and nineteenth—and is celebrated every year to mark the freedom of Black Americans and commemorate their history, culture, and determination. In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Juneteenth is a celebration of Black independence, but it’s also a day of remembrance. African American literature offers a historic lens through which to view this holiday and engage with Black history.
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