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Tag: Juneteenth

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Background with a red, black, and green stripe. The word "Juneteenth" in the center.
Image by Wynn Pointaux from Pixabay

June 19th is Juneteenth, also known as “Black Independence Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.” Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, enslaved people living in Confederate states, specifically Texas, would not learn of their freedom until two months after the Civil War ended in April of 1965. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger and his soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the state’s residents that slavery had been abolished and that enslaved people were now free. Mary Elliot, Curator of American Slavery at the National Museum of African American History and Culture stated that “although there were enslavers who were aware of the implementation of the Emancipation Proclamation, it wasn’t until June 19th, 1865 that it was enforced with the Union Army” (Smithsonian Institution, n.d.).

While Juneteenth has long been a celebration of hope and freedom within the African American community, Juneteenth did not become a federally recognized holiday until 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. If you’re interested in learning more about the history of Juneteenth, read our Understanding and Honoring Juneteenth post from last year.

Juneteenth and the Health Sciences

So how is Juneteenth related to medicine, the health sciences, and public health? In many ways, Juneteenth is more relevant than ever considering the focus in recent years on confronting health inequities and the structural racism that is at the root of those health inequities. In 2020, The American Medical Association (AMA) declared that racism threatens public health and created a strategic plan to advance health equity. The 2020 statement recognizes that “when race is described as a risk factor, it is more likely to be a proxy for influences including structural racism than a proxy for genetics” (O’Reilly, 2020). Race has long been considered a risk factor for many conditions and “is present in numerous clinical guidelines and algorithms” and “can impact medical decision-making that potentially worsens health disparities” (The Oregon Clinic, 2021). 

Juneteenth has many lessons that medical, nursing, and public health professionals and students can apply to further the cause of health equity and provide high-quality care to patients. Practicing critical reflection, “the process of identifying, questioning, and assessing deep-seated assumptions upon which our beliefs are built”  can help us “better recognize and arrest our biases that can manifest in our interpersonal encounters with patients, colleagues, and trainees” (Opara, et al., 2021). Participating in “transformational conversations” can help “raise the consciousness within the spaces we occupy” and bring important issues to light so they can be addressed (Opara, et al., 2021). 

Further Reading

Educating yourself on racial health disparities is always a great first step. Here are titles from our Diversity and Disparities in Health Care Collection that may be of interest:

References: 

Smithsonian Institution. (n.d.). What is Juneteenth? National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/what-juneteenth

Opara, I.N., Lewis, C., Kasozi, R.N., Givens, R. (2021). Lessons from 1865: What clinicians can learn from Juneteenth. Passion in the Medical Profession. https://closler.org/passion-in-the-medical-profession/lessons-from-1865-what-clinicians-can-learn-from-juneteenth

O’Reilly, K.B. (November 16, 2020). AMA: Racism is a threat to public health. American Medical Association website. https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/health-equity/ama-racism-threat-public-health

The Oregon Clinic. (June 18, 2021). Juneteenth and healthcare. The Oregon Clinic Newsroom. https://www.oregonclinic.com/newsroom/juneteenth-and-healthcare/

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Photograph of a person reading a red book

On June 19, 1865 Union General Gordon Granger along with a band of soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, one of the furthest corners of the former Confederacy. The general informed the enslaved people in town that by order of President Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, slavery was no longer legal within Confederate territories and that they were now free. The following year, on June 19, 1866 the freed people of Galveston organized a celebration to commemorate the ending of slavery within the United States. This event eventually became one of the most important holidays for African-Americans across the country. 

Known as ‘Freedom Day,’ ‘Emancipation Day,’ or most commonly as ‘Juneteenth’, June 19th marked a significant moment in American history and within the African-American community. With the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the ratification of the 13th Amendment near the end of 1865, the institution of slavery was formally ended in the United States. In Texas and other Southern states, Juneteenth became an annual celebration as freed African-Americans shared meals, read the Emancipation Proclamation aloud, registered new voters, and shared their visions for the development of the community. 

During the Great Migration, a period in the 1900s when many Southern African-Americans moved to the Northeast, Midwest or West, the tradition of Juneteenth celebrations was spread to other parts of the country. For decades, Juneteenth was only recognized and celebrated by African-Americans, but with time, the community began to advocate for state and federal governments to honor the day. In 1979, Texas officially declared Juneteenth an official holiday, making it the first state to recognize the date. Since then, more and more states have recognized Juneteenth in some official capacity. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act which designated Juneteenth as a federal holiday, making it the 11th federally recognized holiday. 

While Galveston, Texas remains a central location for Juneteenth celebrations, other cities such as Atlanta, Georgia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. also hold events that hundreds or thousands of people attend each year. Events still feature food and music, but some cities also host Juneteenth pageants, rodeos, and lectures that all showcase the rich culture of the community. 

If you are interested in honoring Juneteenth, Monday, June 19th is the last day to see the Emancipation Proclamation and General Granger’s General Order No. 3 on display at the National Archives museum! The museum is open from 10:00 AM through 5:30 PM and there is no entry fee. There will also be a free community event at the Black Lives Matter Plaza on June 19th. The event starts at noon and will feature music, games, a kid zone, and other activities. Last, the National Museum of African American History & Culture curated a ‘Juneteenth Reading List’ filled with fictional, historical, biographical, and autobiographical texts to help people learn more about Juneteenth and the period after slavery. 

Juneteenth is considered one of the oldest celebrations within the African-American community. It marked the beginning of freedom and self-actualization for formerly enslaved people. Even today, families spend time reflecting on the legacy of slavery and the continual fight for civil rights. To hear a personal anecdote about the importance of Juneteenth, please watch this short video from GW Associate Professor Imani Cheers:

References:

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