Friday is Juneteenth, and the story behind this holiday is one every American should know. It is a story about freedom delayed.
In 1863, President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring enslaved people in Confederate states legally free. But in states still under Confederate control, that order could not be enforced. And in Texas, the westernmost Confederate state, enslaved African Americans didn’t find out about their freedom for another two and a half years.
Then on June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and read the order aloud. More than 250-thousand enslaved people heard for the first time that they were free.
That day became Juneteenth, and it has been celebrated in Black communities ever since. The holiday saw a resurgence during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s and gained national attention again in 2020. On June 17th, 2021, President Biden signed it into law, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
There are many events around town to celebrate the day, including one in Hart Plaza. The Hart of Detroit Festival is one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in Michigan. There will be music, food, live art, civic engagement, and community activations all day long.
Related --> Your Metro Detroit guide to celebrating Juneteenth
Alycia Robinson, from the Hart of Detroit Festival, joined Local 4 Live to talk more about the event.
You can watch the full interview in the video at the beginning of this article.