Why We Celebrate Juneteenth: Freedom, History & the Fight for Equality

On June 19, 1865—two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation—Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with life-changing news: slavery was over. More than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas were finally told they were free.

This moment in history is what we now recognize as Juneteenth. It’s both a sobering remembrance and a joyful celebration, because it marked the beginning of true freedom for millions of African Americans who had lived in bondage long after they were legally freed.

So Why Do We Remember Juneteenth?

We remember because slavery was one of the darkest chapters in American history—an inhumane system that robbed generations of dignity, freedom, and life. Juneteenth forces us to confront this truth, so we never repeat it. It's a reminder that freedom delayed is freedom denied, and justice must be pursued for all.

And Why Do We Celebrate Juneteenth?

We celebrate because Juneteenth stands as a symbol of progress. The 13th Amendment, ratified in December 1865, made slavery and involuntary servitude illegal in the United States. That moment—written into the very fabric of our Constitution—was monumental. It was a turning point toward a better future and the foundation for civil rights victories to come.

Yes, America has struggled. We’ve fought over race, power, and freedom. The Civil War claimed more than 600,000 lives. Abraham Lincoln—who issued the Emancipation Proclamation—paid with his own life. But from those ashes, we rose. Together.

Fondly do we hope, fervently do we pray, that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet, if God wills that it continue until all the wealth piled by the bondsman’s two hundred and fifty years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawn with the sword, as was said three thousand years ago, so still it must be said “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.”

-Abraham Lincoln's 2nd Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865

Over the next century, we dismantled Jim Crow laws. We marched through Selma. We stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and demanded change. Through unity and courage, we passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Those were not easy victories—but they were ours, because we stood together.

A Brief Timeline of Progress

1863 – Emancipation Proclamation signed by President Lincoln

1865 – The 13th Amendment ratified, officially abolishing slavery in the U.S.

1865 – Juneteenth becomes the true freedom day for thousands in Texas

1964 – Civil Rights Act passed, outlawing segregation and discrimination

1965 – Voting Rights Act signed into law, protecting Black voting rights

2021 – Juneteenth is officially recognized as a federal holiday

Where Do We Stand Today?

We live in a time of rising division. Political tension, racial unease, and efforts to roll back federal civil rights protections are growing louder. But let us be clear: America is not perfect, but it is strong, because its people are. Our diversity is not our weakness; it is our greatest strength.

We are a nation of immigrants, united under one Constitution that guarantees freedom and equality for all. That doesn’t just happen. It takes work. It takes courage. And it takes the will to stand against hatred, even when it’s unpopular.

Spanish-American philosopher George Santayana said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” As we mark Juneteenth, we must ask ourselves: Are we moving forward—or standing still?

The answer is up to us.
Because history has shown: when we come together, we win—every time. We honor the past