What is Juneteenth? Everything to know about the Emancipation Day holiday coming this month
Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States, is this month.
Although Juneteenth was officially recognized in 2021 by President Joe Biden, making it the country's youngest federal holiday, it gained prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests after Minneapolis man George Floyd and Louisville, Kentucky, woman Breonna Taylor were killed during encounters with law enforcement, USA Today reports.
Despite the recent popularity surrounding Juneteenth, many people may be unaware of when it is, its history or how to celebrate. As always, we have you covered. Here's everything to know about Juneteenth 2023.
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What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday, the History Channel reports.
On Jan. 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared "that all persons held as slaves" in the rebel states "are, and henceforward shall be free." Enslavers were responsible for telling enslaved people they were free, but many ignored the order.
Texas was the last Confederate state to announce the proclamation on June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed a community in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people two and a half years earlier, per USA Today.
The first known Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866 and spread across the country as African Americans migrated to new cities.
When is Juneteenth 2023?
Juneteenth is observed annually on June 19, which is a Monday this year.
Where does the name 'Juneteenth' come from?
Juneteenth is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth." The holiday is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.
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How do people celebrate Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is typically celebrated with educational activities for children, parades, concerts, beauty pageants and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, Steve Williams, president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, told USA Today in 2020.
The official Juneteenth website also outlines several ways you can celebrate the new holiday in your workplace, community or home, starting with a reading of its history to learn how Juneteenth celebrations have evolved over the years.
Supporting Black-owned businesses and organizations is also one of the most important ways to observe Juneteenth. There are plenty of Black-owned businesses in Greater Cincinnati that you can support this Juneteenth. But in case you don't know where to start, here are a few:
- BlaCk OWned Outerwear: 822 Elm St., Downtown, blackowned19xx.com.
- Esoteric Brewing Co.: 918 E. McMillan St., Walnut Hills, esotericbrewing.com.
- Ollie's Trolley: 1607 Central Ave., West End, facebook.com/OlliesTrolleyCincinnati.
- Skin by Brown Lee & Co.: 7337 Montgomery Road, Silverton, skinbybrownleeandco.com.
- Posh Fitness: 1216 Sycamore St., Suite 12, Over-the-Rhine, poshfitnessboutique.com.
2023 Cincinnati Juneteenth festival and parade
The 2023 Cincinnati Juneteenth Festival will be held Saturday, June 17, from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, June 18, from 2-6 p.m. at Eden Park, 950 Eden Park Drive, Mount Adams. The family-friendly festival includes two stages of music, a supervised children's play area, historical reenactors, health screenings, vendors, art, food, a chess tournament and a soul revue with a tribute to Aretha Franklin. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit juneteenthcincinnati.org.
The 2023 Cincinnati Juneteenth Parade will take place on Monday, June 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The parade begins at Linn and Court streets, travels down Court Street, turns right on Plum Street and ends at the corner of Plum and Richmond Streets. For more information, visit thecojp.com.