Juneteenth an opportunity to celebrate past, look forward to future: student essays
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Students across Greater Lansing wrote essays about the history and importance of Juneteenth as part of the 2023 Mr. Cordell Henderson Juneteenth Essay Competition and Scholarship Program. Here are the winning essays.
Celebrations of freedom, independence can foster understanding
Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It is celebrated on June 19th each year and has gained national recognition in recent years. Juneteenth marks the day when enslaved African Americans in Texas were finally informed of their freedom, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The holiday is not only a celebration of the end of slavery but also a reminder of the long road toward true equality and freedom.
To understand the significance of Juneteenth, it is important to examine the historical context that led to its creation. Slavery was a fundamental part of the United States economy for centuries. It was deeply ingrained in the social, political, and economic fabric of the country. In 1861, the Civil War broke out, largely over the issue of slavery. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 declared all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free, but this proclamation did not immediately free all slaves in the United States. Many slave owners in the South ignored the proclamation, and it was not until the Union army began to occupy Confederate states that slavery began to come to an end.
Texas was one of the last Confederate states to be occupied by the Union army, and it was not until June 19th, 1865, that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the war was over and all slaves were free. This announcement came over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, making it a significant moment in American history. Juneteenth celebrations began to be held annually in Texas, and the holiday spread to other states in the following decades.
Juneteenth celebrations were suppressed during the Jim Crow era in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The holiday was seen as a threat to the white supremacist narrative of the time. It was not until the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s that Juneteenth began to be celebrated widely once again. In recent years, Juneteenth has gained national recognition and is celebrated across the country as a day of reflection, education and celebration.
Today, celebrating Juneteenth is more important than ever. The events of the past years, including the killing of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests, have brought issues of racial injustice to the forefront of the national conversation. The celebration of Juneteenth can serve as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in the United States. It is also an opportunity for people of all races to come together to learn about the history of slavery in the United States and the continuing legacy of systemic racism.
Juneteenth can be connected to other cultural celebrations of freedom or independence. For example, in Mexico, Independence Day is celebrated on Sept. 16th to commemorate the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence in 1810. In India, Independence Day is celebrated on Aug. 15th to mark the end of British colonial rule in 1947. These celebrations are similar to Juneteenth in that they commemorate the end of a period of oppression and mark the beginning of a new era of freedom and independence.
It is important to recognize other cultural celebrations of freedom across the world. Celebrating these holidays can help to broaden our understanding of the struggles for freedom and independence that have taken place throughout history. It can also serve as a reminder that the struggle for freedom and justice is ongoing and that we must work together to create a more just and equitable world.
Celebrating Juneteenth is more important now than ever, as we continue to confront the ongoing legacy of racism and work toward a more just society. The holiday provides an opportunity for reflection, education, and celebration of the progress that has been made toward racial equality, while also acknowledging the work that still needs to be done. By drawing connections to other cultural celebrations of freedom and independence, we can broaden our understanding of the struggles for liberation and work towards a more inclusive and equitable world. It is crucial that we continue to recognize and cultivate knowledge of and appreciation for other cultural celebrations of freedoms across the world, as we strive towards a society that values and celebrates diversity.
Kennedy Perkins, Okemos High School, senior, Bellamy-Thomas Scholarship, first place
Juneteenth celebrations remind fight for equality is not over
The United States Civil War started in 1861 between the northern states called the Union and the southern states called the Confederacy. The cause of the war was due to slavery, which had become a growing issue within the nation. Slavery was the backbone of the South’s agricultural economy, which they refused to forfeit. In the North however, due to the help of many abolitionists, slavery became seen as wrong, while it started to become more industrialized. Due to the southern states fear of losing slavery, they preemptively decided to secede from the United States. The northern states did not support the nation splitting which caused the war to start.
On Sept. 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation stating that all slaves in Confederate states were to be freed by Jan. 1, 1863. Once the proclamation was signed, Union soldiers went through and liberated any and all enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states as the war proceeded. Working through the Confederate states to free the enslaved African Americans took a lot of time, and slave owners did not just tell the African-American people they were set free. However, on June 19, 1865, General Gordan Granger came to Galveston, Texas and freed the last of the African-American people within the Confederate states.
Juneteenth first began as a state holiday in Texas. Celebrating the holiday of Juneteenth soon grew and became popular in many other states. In 2021 on June 16th, President Joe Biden recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday. It goes by many other names such as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day. The important thing to take from all of these names is how it represents the freedom of slaves within America. Juneteenth, although it talks about a gray area in American history, is very important to observe and celebrate. Juneteenth celebrates the often-neglected accomplishments of African Americans along with educating people about the current injustice that Black Americans often face. Currently African Americans face many issues with systemic racism, police brutality and racial profiling. An assumption of thinking racism is gone just because slavery or segregation is is something I believed when younger. However, with constant issues of police brutality, job discrimination and constant uses of stereotypes, it is evident that the fight for equality is not over.
Although Juneteenth represents the freedom of African Americans, many other countries have holidays that represent the freedom of their race, for example Freedom Day. Freedom Day is a South African holiday that represents the end of an apartheid (segregated) South Africa. Freedom day is an annual holiday that occurs on April 27. Another holiday that we know as Columbus Day, but is known as Hispanic day in many Hispanic countries. Hispanic people celebrate unity on that day and come together to support one another. The Indian Independence on Aug. 15th represents freedom from British’s colonial rule. The common theme found in all of these holidays is the unity and joy gained from being able to do and follow what their cultures believe in without being controlled from anyone else. These holidays are commonly celebrated by parties, games and even parades in some places. However, some may think if you are not a part of any of these races, why should it matter?
There are many reasons why it is important to learn about other cultures that are not yours; however, the main reason I believe so is to encourage acceptance and diversity amongst others. Many people often fear things they do not know much about or do not understand. Through learning more about other cultures, customs and traditions it helps people gain respect and appreciation toward others and allows bonds to be formed. Although it may just be a random day to some, Juneteenth is a good way to grow relationships and make connections through the celebration of freedom.
Michael Woods, Andrews Academy, Bellamy-Thomas Scholarship, second place
Sacrifices for freedom deserve to be celebrated
What historical context led to Juneteenth being made? It all started with the divide between the North and South. The South had large plantations that grew cotton and other labor-intensive crops and slaves were an important asset to plantation life in the South. They provided cheap labor, and in turn it allowed plantation owners to grow crops cheaper rather than hiring free people to work the fields. As a result they believed without slaves their economy would be destroyed. However the North had urban cities and slaves weren't necessary so they wanted to abolish slavery and use the tax dollars on new infrastructures.
This eventually led to the Civil War. On June 19, 1865, during the ending of the Civil War, the U.S. Army declared slaves were free but even then they were still held in bondage. Originally slaves were supposed to be freed on Jan. 1, 1963. Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation stating “slaves within any State, or designated part of a State ... in rebellion, ... shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free."
Juneteenth was made to mark the start of freedom and independence from the slavery; it was the first step of change. It was created to honor the sacrifices that were made from slaves who rose up and fought back for their independence. Those people paved a way for us to be where we are now. Even though it has improved an incredible amount, there is still discrimination against Black and brown people of color. The celebration of Juneteenth is most important to remember how far we've come with the many sacrifices that have been made.
Just like other countries, it's important to celebrate the freedom and independence that they have gained such as Ghana, Mexico, and India. These countries have similar celebrations like Juneteenth such as Ghana. The country gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1957 and became the first African country to gain it. Another example is India. On August 15, 1947, the 300-year-long British rule over India came to an end. Lastly Mexico celebrates in September to memorialize the Grito de Dolores, the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence. All of these celebrations have one thing in common and that is gaining independence whether it be from a slave owner, a president, or even a country. They all have struggled with an obstacle and have gained what they need and deserve: freedom. We really need to realize that things would be way different if those people didn't fight for what they deserved and we need to use that knowledge to create more changes to make things better.
Other cultural celebrations of freedom are just as important as our own history that we have learned and even though we didn't go through it, we understand just how important these events are. Moreover we should never forget how things started so we can form that change to move forward and make sure these kinds of situations don't repeat themselves. Just like any other countries around the world should learn from their faults to change things for the better. All in all we just have to work harder to create fair chances for everyone and freedom is a given.
Taniyah Alexander, Olivet College Talent Scholarship, Waverly High School
Juneteenth deserves awareness and understanding
Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the day that the United States made a law for slavery to be illegal. A lot of people still celebrate this day and they bring awareness to this day because it's not just a regular holiday; instead, it's an important holiday we have to spread awareness to people, especially now and with what the world has come to. It is also important to spread awareness about this holiday because most young people don't know about this holiday or even what it is.
Juneteenth should also have some more recognition, not just to know what it means, but to also learn why and how it happened and what people had to do in order to abolish slavery. Although Juneteenth has been long celebrated as a healing day for African Americans, it has now just become a federal holiday in 2021.
There are a lot of things that led up to Juneteenth but, according to an article I read on the Juneteenth society website. "It all stalled during the Civil War." President Abraham Lincoln issued a document on Sept. 22, 1862, which led to the freedom of slaves. Yet Texas enforcement had been slow and inconsistent and the word hadn't reached all until June 9, 1865. That day more than 250,000 slaves had been freed.
Juneteenth has a lot of similarities to other holidays like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Rosa Parks Day, and Malcolm X Day. It still is important to celebrate this day and other holidays like this to learn about and recognize all the people that were used as slaves, who were treated so badly and poorly, and what pain and suffering they had to go through during the time of slavery.
In conclusion. Juneteenth is an important historical holiday that needs to be recognized more.
Amiah Triplett, 6th Grade Haslett Middle School, Category 1 essay winner
Juneteenth celebrates a more inclusive independence day
Celebrations are held all around the country by Black communities in celebration of Juneteenth (June 19th), a day marked in commemoration of the abolition of slavery throughout the United States. Black communities gather together to express their happiness, joy, gratitude, and optimism after finally becoming free from slavery.
There are many scenarios to answer the question, “What is Juneteenth?” Today, it may seem like the Black community is free from worry of having to do forced labor and getting severely beaten, persecuted, exhausted, dehydrated, and overworked against their will. However, the truth is, this is not completely the case. Dating back to the 16th-19th centuries, slavery had been prominent in the United States. Hundreds of thousands of Black Africans were forced onto ships and brought to America to work on plantations, planting and harvesting crops including indigo, rice, and cotton, which was the primary economic activity at the time.
The United States was a young country at the time, as more people settled in before obtaining independence from Great Britain. On July 4th, 1776, the United States finally gained their independence and “freedom.” However, this “freedom” was only for certain categories of people. It excluded women’s rights, Indigenous people’s rights, and Black/African American freedoms/rights. A quote from Fredrick Douglass’s speech about the 4th of July states: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” where briefly in a speech he gave in July of 1852 spoke about how the freedom gained from the United States' independence was a freedom only for the white men, (Goodell et al.).
We celebrate Juneteenth because it is the date when the emancipation of enslaved African Americans occurred. During Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, the southern states refused to abolish slavery and broke off from the Union states and formed their own “Confederate States.” Lincoln had no choice but to pass the “Emancipation Proclamation,” which freed the thousands of enslaved people in Washington D.C. and also promised freedom to those in the Confederate States if they didn’t rejoin the Union. After refusal to rejoin the Union, this led to the enactment of the 13th amendment, which then abolished slavery throughout the entire United States. Two years later, General Gordon Granger marched through Galveston, Texas proclaiming freedom to all enslaved people there who hadn’t known of their freedom yet.
In conclusion, the combination of “June” and “nineteenth'' (the anniversary of the proclamation through Galveston, Texas) created the name Juneteenth, which in 2021 became a federal holiday. Many observe this day because of the long-awaited liberation from oppression and injustice, and the recognition of their dignity and identity as Americans. Lastly, Juneteenth also serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice that still persists today. There is still work to be done especially in the justice system, policing and employment, in order to fully realize total freedom.
Treasure Kakaire, 8th Grade MacDonald Middle School, Category II essay winner
Juneteenth's status as national holiday a step in freedom journey
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which proclaimed the end of slavery in the southern states. The intent was immediate effect, but it took time for the Union soldiers to go state to state to advise the people in the South that the slaves had been freed. It was not until June 19th, 1865, in Texas, that the final notification of the abolition of slavery occurred.
Juneteenth was a decisive moment in the struggle for freedom and equality. The newly freed slaves gathered in churches and public spaces to celebrate their emancipation from slavery. It became a day of celebration for African Americans often marked by community gatherings, parades, picnics, and other events celebrating Black history and culture. It is celebrated as a time to reflect on the struggles of Black people throughout history, and to recognize the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality.
Because of its significance, a growing movement began to make Juneteenth a national holiday. In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. The recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday is a major step in acknowledging this day's importance in promoting awareness and education about the history of slavery and the impact of African Americans on American society.
Juneteenth is an important day for all Americans. It is a time to reflect on the horrors of slavery and celebrate African Americans' achievements and contributions to the United States. The holiday is also a reminder of the ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality. The celebration of Juneteenth helps to promote awareness and understanding of the struggles and hardships faced by African Americans throughout history. It serves as a call to action to continue the fight for equality and justice for all.
The recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday is just one step on our pathway to the absolute freedom that the Constitution of the United States of America requires. So, as we celebrate, let us do so with eyes wide open and with the resilience, perseverance, and faith of our ancestors in their centuries-long struggle to end the injustices of American society. It is a time to be reminded that true equity and equality have yet to come, and we must continue to be vigilant about the bias and racism that still exist. An example is how the Tennessee Republicans kicked Justin Jones and Justin Pearson out of the state Legislature for standing up to them. This is a stark reminder that we owe it to our ancestors to speak up and speak out whenever justice is denied.
In conclusion, recognizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday is just a step on our pathway to the true freedom that the Constitution of the United States of America demands. So, as we celebrate, let us do so with eyes wide open and with the strength, perseverance, and faith of our ancestors.
Angelina Thomas, 9th Grade Holt High School, Category III essay winner
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Juneteenth student essays celebrate history, raise questions about progress
