As local celebrations near, Juneteenth becomes national holiday
(Gareth Henderson Photo)
When Juneteenth celebrations begin on Saturday across the U.S., they’ll be taking place on a new national holiday that was just signed into law.
President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on Thursday, after the bill sailed through Congress this week. The nation’s 12th federal holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., when General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, and announced that slaves in Texas were free by order of the President of the United States. The announcement came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — which had become official January 1, 1863.
At Thursday’s signing ceremony, Vice President Kamala Harris and Biden acknowledged the Juneteenth bill was an important step forward for the country, but also a reminder of how much work remains on racial equity in the U.S.
“We have come far, and we have far to go, but today is a day of celebration,” said Harris, who is the first woman and first person of color to hold the office of vice president. “It is not only a day of pride, it is also a day for us to reaffirm and rededicate ourselves to action.”
During his remarks, Biden said learning from the past is a key part of making a better future. He called Juneteenth “a day of profound weight and profound power.”
“Juneteenth marks both the long, hard night of slavery and subjugation, and a promise of a brighter morning to come,” he said.
For local Juneteenth celebrations, the declaration of a national holiday shines a brighter spotlight on this day, and related efforts to promote diversity and education about American history. In Hartford, Vermont, the town government and the Hartford Committee on Racial Equity and Inclusion (HCOREI) are hosting a Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, from 3:30 to 6 p.m. at Lyman Point Park, at 171 Bridge St., in White River Junction.
Hartford’s annual commemoration of African-American emancipation brings together Upper Valley communities for a casual gathering, an announcement said. It provides a space where people can honor this day and engage in “education and fellowship,” Allene Swienckowski, chairperson of HCOREI, said in the statement.
“Juneteenth is such an important moment in history that should be acknowledged and celebrated,” she said.
This will be Hartford’s second Juneteenth Celebration, but the first in person — last year’s inaugural event had to be held online due to the pandemic.
Joe Major, vice chair of the Hartford Select Board, said the celebration is meant to be an inclusive event, where anyone can come and learn more about this important day. He said several local residents have come up to him recently, wanting to learn more about the Juneteenth Celebration and what it means.
“It’s not just Black history; it’s American history,” Major said. “I want everyone to learn this, be a part of this, grow with this. It’s an inclusion celebration, not a segmented celebration. That’s the goal.”
This year, speakers at the event include: Dia Draper, the assistant dean for diversity, equity and inclusion at Dartmouth College's Tuck School of Business; Maggi Ibrahim, equity coordinator for the Hartford School District; U.S. Rep. Peter Welch; and State Rep. Kevin “Coach” Christie, who is also chair of the Hartford School Board. There will also be performances by Northern Stage and JAG Productions, and members of the Juneteenth 2021 planning committee will be on hand to provide information and answer questions.
Major, who is Black, grew up celebrating Juneteenth in his hometown of Buffalo, New York, which has the oldest Juneteenth celebration in the country. He saw the new federal holiday as a chance for the nation to learn, and grow, together.
“I’m excited, once again because we’re learning about history and what this is all about,” Major said.
— Gareth Henderson
