Juneteenth is the United States’ newest federal holiday. In 2021, it became the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was enacted in 1983.
If you don’t know what Juneteenth is or why it’s celebrated, you’re not alone. We sat down with Juneteenth expert Charvella McGary from the Tri-Cities Juneteenth Community Council to learn about this holiday and why it’s so important.
What is Juneteenth?
Charvella McGary: Juneteenth is the celebration of June 19, 1865 when General Gordon Granger finally made it to Galveston, Texas to tell the last of the slaves they had been freed. This was two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863.
How should we reflect on Juneteenth?
CM: Back then was a time when we [Black people] didn’t have any freedoms, before they were granted to us. Now, we can come together to reflect on the future and on the history we don’t want to repeat. We can come together with friends and family to learn how to bring our communities together to make them stronger.
Juneteenth to me is a day of reflection and a day of renewal. It’s a moment for us to appreciate the African-American experience, but it’s inclusive of all races, nationalities, and cultures. It’s a day when we all take one step closer to better utilizing the energy wasted on racism. Juneteenth is a day when we pray for peace and liberty for all.
Why is it important for youth to learn about Juneteenth?
CM: Youth don’t learn about Juneteenth in school, so we want to make sure everyone knows the history of the day. It’s important for people to want to be free, to have the desire to do what’s in their hearts, not just do what other people want them to do. We want children to know they can do that. You should always believe you can do better and be better, and your community can help you.
What can we do to celebrate Juneteenth?
CM: Research Juneteenth, read a book by an African-American author, or watch a documentary that may shed some light on things you’ve never known before. It’s important to learn about African-American accomplishments and achievements and about the trials and tribulations they faced due to their enslavement. Even after slavery was abolished, for example, there were still indentured servants because they had no money and nowhere to go.
How would you like to see Juneteenth recognized?
CM: I love that people, businesses, and states are recognizing Juneteenth and what it actually means. We can all celebrate this day, and we can all make changes. Juneteenth is an official holiday in Washington, but I would like to see it recognized in every state, and worldwide. I’d like to see it worldwide because we came from somewhere and were brought here to the United States. I’d like other countries to know we are trying to celebrate our history and what happened to us over here. I’d like to see more recognition and understanding of why we celebrate this day.
How has Juneteenth been celebrated in local communities?
CM: Here in the Tri-Cities, my father started a celebration called Fun Day in 1978. The purpose of this celebration was to bring to bring the local African-American community together for an event that wasn’t a funeral. Back then, funerals were the only time a lot of African Americans could get together.
When my dad organized Fun Day again the next year in 1979, my cousin who was visiting from Texas told my dad about the large Juneteenth celebrations they have there. After learning more about Juneteenth, my dad moved the Fun Day celebration to June and it became a Juneteenth Celebration.
We continue to celebrate it today, and more people are starting to understand what it is and why we’re celebrating.
*This interview was slightly edited and paraphrased for readers with permission from Charvella McGary. We hope this interview and information helped you understand the history and importance of Juneteenth.
