Tomorrow is Juneteenth! Some may ask, what is Juneteenth? It is a celebration of freedom originating in Texas on June 19, 1865, when General Gordon Granger brought news of the end of the Civil War and the subsequent liberation of enslaved persons in Texas. Ironically this was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.A state holiday in Texas, Juneteenth is now observed in communities across the United States and has become an African American tradition. The day is celebrated with parades, performances, lectures, and other activities. It is also a time for reflection and recommitment to family and community. In the spirit of community, the Anacostia Community Museum (ACM) sponsored Juneteenth programs from 1991 to 2003 and documented the observance in Galveston, Texas. ACM Archives is in the process of cataloging and digitizing select images from its Juneteenth programs so visit us regularly to see what’s new. For additional information on Juneteenth search Smithsonian Institution Libraries. You may also join Anacostia Community Museum for this weekend’s program, Juneteenth: A Celebration of Liberation, with Cowboy Fred Carter and other performers in a historical journey into Juneteenth.
Pictured top left: Juneteenth parade (2003) in Galveston, Texas, Jubilee Research Collection.
Jennifer Morris
Archivist
Anacostia Community Museum Archives
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