The Juneteenth celebration has many activities and delicious dishes associated with it too. There are fun baseball games played, barbecued feasts eaten, rodeos held and fishing enjoyed by young and old alike. At the Juneteenth festivities improvement in one’s self and the importance of one’s educations are some of the main focuses. Special guests are also asked to give a speech about what they remember from their past. Most the Juneteenth celebrations start or end with a service of prayers.
Barbecuing is an important asset to Juneteenth celebrations. Young and older generations experience the smells and the spirit of barbecuing, just as their ancestors may have in past times. The attention is focused on a pit especially made for barbecuing.
Various dishes are brought by everyone to enjoy and feast upon. Food is plentiful at all Juneteenth festivities. The rich meats like pork, beef or lamb are usually what is used for the barbecue dishes. Everyone leaves with a full stomach and a heart that has been lifted.
The Juneteenth celebrations are held in several places, sites of churches, parks, centers or rivers and lakes. Some people even donated their land to hold these festivities on. In the decades past, the Juneteenth celebration rapidly grew in each years passing.
Beginning in the 1900’s, early, the Juneteenth festivities started to wane. This was due to the forces of economics mostly, at that time. People had to leave their own farms and move into the larger cities to help them find employment. Their new employer’s were hesitant to give their new employee’s June 19th off in the recognition of Juneteenth, unless it fell on a Sunday.
In the 1950’s and the 1960’s both negative and positive things happened for the Juneteenth holiday, this was due to the Civil Rights Movement of the times. In Atlanta, student’s who were demonstrating and engaged with the Civil Rights Campaign of Atlanta; all wore badges of freedom with Juneteenth on them. The largest Juneteenth celebrations happened after the Poor People’s March to Washington, D.C, in the year 1968. They are now located in the states of Minneapolis and Milwaukee.
State legislator Al Edwards on the 1st of January, 1980, made Juneteenth a state holiday officially. The observance of Juneteenth and its importance in history has been gaining in recognition all over the United States. This is all in thanks to Representative Al Edwards’s efforts.
The Juneteenth holiday grew in the 1980’s and the 1990’s. Some important institutions even began holding and even sponsoring some events linked to Juneteenth, Two of these were The Henry Ford Museum and the Smithsonian.
Juneteenth celebrations help everyone gain an appreciation and knowledge for the history of African American’s and the culture which surrounds their heritage. It is a true celebration of freedom.
We should all share our knowledge of Juneteenth with everyone we know to help this special day become recognized and celebrated by more people.
It is sad that a day as important as Juneteenth (June 19th), is not known to a lot of people. The day freedom truly rang out for all African American’s in the United States should be recognized and rejoiced in by everyone. The history behind this great day should also be shared from generation to generation.