Welcome to Juneteenth, a journey toward enlightenment, empathy, and empowerment. Although this journal only scratches the surface, it is a starting point in our mission to educate our borderland community about the purpose of this commemoration. Juneteenth, derived from the words “June” and “nineteenth,” holds tremendous significance as the oldest known observance of the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. We gather, hoping to embrace unity and togetherness within our community.
On June 19, 1865 — over two years after President Lincoln declared all enslaved persons free — Major General Gordon Granger and Union Army troops marched to Galveston, Texas, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and free the last enslaved Black Americans in Texas. On April 8, 1864, the Senate passed Amendment XIII of the United States Constitution, which abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, with the exception of its use as a punishment for a crime. Subsequently, on January 31, 1865, the House of Representatives approved the amendment. Finally, on December 6, 1865, 27 of the then-36 states ratified the amendment. The amendment was proclaimed on December 18, solidifying its significance.
Various names for Juneteenth exist, to include Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, Black Independence Day, the 2nd Independence Day, and Emancipation Day. It is an observance that became a national holiday on June 17, 2021, after President Biden signed legislation making June 19th a federal holiday, commemorating the emancipation of those once enslaved in the United States and beyond its borders.
While Juneteenth has been celebrated in El Paso for many years; however, in 2022, the founder of Black El Paso Voice gathered supporters to establish the official Juneteenth El Paso Initiative to actively and effectively observe Juneteenth. One of the goals was to include local government and ensure a family friendly celebration. Reaching out to Pablo Caballero at El Paso Parks & Recreation propelled the movement to make the Juneteenth celebration a citywide educational, fun-filled, and memorable event, reflective of the various ways it was celebrated in Galveston in 1865. To ensure successful collaboration, we contacted District 2 City Representative Alexsandra Annello to assist in actualizing a more inclusive and multicultural observance. The rest is history and the beginning of what we believe to be the example of community unity embracing Black American culture and educating the borderland about the importance of the observance of Juneteenth through education.
As residents of our great border city, our goal is to educate, celebrate, and uplift the history and progress of Black people in the United States, specifically the American Descendants of US Chattel Slavery. Unfortunately, The noble endeavor of educating the community about Black history is often met with derision and scorn, undermining the vital work of honoring and acknowledging the profound contributions and struggles of the Black community. Including our stories in the conversation about this country’s history has become increasingly challenging, but we will continue to change the narrative by educating the community.
Achieving this requires the support of our local community and government. We embody the founder’s mission to unite Black El Pasoans and exemplify that we are stronger as we strive for inclusivity within our community. We thrive, united in our collective growth, as we empower and uplift each other.
Rather than referring to non-Black community supporters as allies, we prefer the term: champions – who, along with us, embrace equality, equity, and the elevation of all people, regardless of our diverse beliefs, while ensuring Black Americans and our experiences are not forgotten or minimized. We aim to move our local community and country forward by positively advancing unity and understanding among all its citizens.
Remember, Juneteenth is not merely a one-day event but an ongoing observance of realized freedom. The fight for equality and justice is continuous, and we must remain vigilant in upholding these principles.
Your celebration of Juneteenth should not be exploitive in nature.
Utilize the official Juneteenth flag. (Click here for more information on the official flag.)
Defying ridicule, we illuminate Black history’s profound significance and will forever humanize slavery.
Juneteenth El Paso Committee
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More about Juneteenth: Why is Freedom Day celebrated on the Date of Texas’ Emancipation Day?
