Juneteenth: A Solemn remembrance and a vibrant celebration of Black freedom, resilience, and cultural legacy.
BY DBA FIRST GENTLEMAN AUTHOR VICTOR WERNER
I think it’s best to start this article with an empathic statement to the reader: If you had no idea what Juneteenth was until somewhat recently, or feel like the holiday appeared out of nowhere, you are not entirely at fault. I say “empathic” as I, growing up in a military town in Idaho, was not educated about Juneteenth, its relevancy to the history of the United States of America, nor the historical ties it has to my heritage with this country. As for the ones truly at fault, I feel that’s a topic for a different article, in a different tone, at a different time. Instead, let’s take a quick look back in history, discuss why the holiday is important today, and just what it means to us as Coloradans.
Juneteenth is a portmanteau, a blended word, referring to the date June 19, 1865, on which the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation took place in Galveston, Texas, by Union troops. This final enforcement saw the announcement that enslaved individuals were considered freed and equal to their prior enslavers. Note that the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863, a presidential proclamation and executive order by United States President Abraham Lincoln. This equates to a 900-day extension of slavery for those enslaved in Galveston, Texas. Additionally, this would not be the end of slavery for the United States, as Delaware and Kentucky did not release their enslaved until December 1865, after the 13th Amendment was ratified by both, over six months after June 19th.[1][2]
As Juneteenth was a historical happening for Texas, celebrations were held annually by the citizens of Texas starting on June 19, 1866. It wouldn’t be until 1980, 114 years later, when “Texas House Bill 1016 passed in the 66th Legislature, Regular Session, declared June 19, ‘Emancipation Day in Texas,’ a legal state holiday.”[3] It would be the first of many states to do so. As of 2024, “at least 28 states and the District of Columbia have designated Juneteenth as a permanent paid and/or legal holiday through legislation or executive action.”[4]
On June 17, 2021, US President Joe Biden would go on to sign the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into public law, allowing for “Juneteenth National Independence Day“ to be recognized a federal holiday across the U.S.[5]; the newest federal holiday since Martin Luther
King Jr. Day was made a holiday in 1983.[1] It is important to note that the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, as well as many other publicized murders of Black Americans by those with disproportionate power, served as a catalyst to encourage the passing of this federal holiday.
This solemn, important note brings us to why we should recognize and commemorate Juneteenth (National Independence Day). This day does not only look upon the past of an abused people, but also how the abuse continues to ring through each passage of time within our country. In 1863, several slavers decidedly neglected the Emancipation Proclamation and carried on with the dehumanization and subjugation of an entire people. Today, we witness the atrocities committed against our fellow citizens with a disproportionate rate of that violence being directed towards Black victims; notably, with studies showing the rate of fatal police shootings against Black Americans was more than double the rate reported for other races, as of 2024.[2]
History has not repeated itself in this instance, as it hasn’t had the chance to conclude. Slavery continues by way of punishment for a crime of which one has been convicted by a system with flagrant biases. Violence continues endlessly through continually militarized forces and statistically racist murder rates. We must recognize the ongoing pattern of victimization present here, but we must also celebrate the beauty and brilliance that Black culture has cultivated and shared with this very same country.
Juneteenth is not only a day of remembrance for the delayed promise of emancipation, but also a celebration of Black joy, creativity, and cultural brilliance. From the revolutionary roots of jazz and blues to the poetry of Langston Hughes, to the culinary traditions that feed soul and community, Black American culture is a cornerstone of this nation’s identity. During Juneteenth, we uplift not just freedom delayed, but the culture that has bloomed brightly in the struggle. Many of the things loved about this United States of America come from specifically from Black America.
Here in Colorado, Juneteenth has long been recognized as a time for gathering and reflection. Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, known as the “Harlem of the West,” has hosted one of the country’s longest-running Juneteenth festivals since 1953.[1] What began as a small community parade has grown into a citywide celebration of history, music, and liberation. In 2004, Denver officially recognized Juneteenth, and in 2022, Colorado declared it a state holiday[2], following the national recognition. These milestones reflect not just formal acknowledgment but a deeper commitment to honoring Black freedom and the ongoing fight for racial justice in our communities.
That said, Colorado stands as a solid state to celebrate Juneteenth; however, many of those celebrations came and went on Sunday, June 15th. If you were lucky enough to celebrate with other upstanding Coloradans, that’s great. In either case, the celebration of Juneteenth should not be limited to music festivals and parades. Instead, if you believe in the equal treatment of people regardless of their appearance and an equitable opportunity under the law, and the many avenues surrounding such, treat Juneteenth as a reminder to fight against the atrocities that threaten Black culture with your platform. Use your privileges to better and protect our society so that the growing generations might be able to see our horrors of today as history for tomorrow.
ENDNOTES
[1] WHYY PBS, “Juneteenth did not mean freedom for Delaware slaves,” June 19, 2020.
https://whyy.org/articles/juneteenth-did-not-mean-freedom-for-delaware-slaves/
[2] Courier Journal, “Kentucky’s forgotten date of freedom came after Texas’ Juneteenth, here’s why,” June 16, 2022.
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/opinion/2022/06/16/juneteenth-why-kentucky-last-free-enslaved-people-not-texas/7610522001/
[3] Texas State Library and Archives Commission, “Texas observes Juneteenth.” https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ref/abouttx/juneteenth
[4] Congress.gov, “Juneteenth: Fact Sheet.” https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R44865
[5] Social Security, “The President Signs S. 475, the ‘Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.’” https://www.ssa.gov/legislation/legis_bulletin_061721.html
[6] NBC News, “Biden signs into law bill establishing Juneteenth as federal holiday,” June 17, 2021. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/biden-signs-law-bill-establishing-juneteenth-federal-holiday-n1271213
[7] Statista, “Rate of fatal police shootings in the United States from 2015 to December 2024, by ethnicity,”
December 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1123070/police-shootings-rate-ethnicity-us/
