Juneteenth was recently declared a Federal holiday.1 Appropriating June 19th as a day to celebrate the end of slavery seems consistent with a historical theme of duplicity on this subject.
Gabriel’s rebellion, Denmark Vesey’s insurrection, Anna William’s suit…pay attention to facts that defy the narrative.
On June 19, 1865 freedom was proclaimed for Texas’ enslaved.2 Elsewhere in our Nation many remained in slavery, including those in loyal Union areas such as New Jersey, the divided state of Tennessee, and the Border States such as Delaware3 (how is Delaware a “border” state?).4
At a National level, slaves weren’t liberated on the whole until the 13th Amendment was ratified on December 6, 1865, ~7 months after Texas slaves gained freedom.5
In case you’re wondering, the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation freed no one.6
That Proclamation was a war document dictating terms to States that had seceded and were therefore under no obligation to comply.7 Ironically, it offered freedom to slaves who could first somehow free themselves and then somehow safely travel to Union soil while slaves in regions under Union control were excluded from such opportunity.
At the start of the Civil War, the Union had control of almost 25% of our country’s enslaved people, people not included in the Emancipation Proclamation.
… that strikes me sideways. You?
Thankfully, the end of slavery as an institution began prior to the 13th Amendment’s ratification in December, 1865:
Liberty for ~3k slaves in Washington DC by way of Lincoln’s Compensated Emancipation Act in 1862.8
Celebration: April 16th9
Andrew Johnson, as Military Governor of Tennessee, freed ~276k slaves in 1864.10
Celebration: August 8th. 11
Texas’ ~180k slaves learned of their freedom by proclamation on June 19, 1865.12
Celebration: June 19th13
Our Nation’s tension over the practice of slavery existed when the first Articles of Confederation were established in 1777, governing our newly established freedom. Freedom for some.
For some, such as the ~1,800 enslaved in Delaware14, the 18 enslaved in New Jersey15 and the hundreds of thousands enslaved in other Union-controlled areas, liberty didn’t come until our Nation finally addressed the hypocrisy of chattel-slavery-in-the-land-of-the-free by amending our Constitution.
December 6th we approved independence from the shackles of our past
December 18th we proclaimed our freedom from slavery’s hypocrisy
June 19th bears no National significance unless it’s a convenient rug under which to sweep the truth
I oppose those who disregard our past. We need to face reality if we’re to overcome.
Let’s do this!
In case you’re wondering why tax filings weren’t due until April 18th this year, it’s because the IRS takes a holiday to celebrate the Compensated Emancipation of Washington DC’s slaves. Since the 16th fell on a Sunday this year, the celebration moved to Monday April 17th. (Paid for with our tax dollars.) https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/dc-emancipation-act
Tennessee celebrates on the day Andrew Johnson liberated his personal slaves (August 8, 1863). He liberated all of the slaves in Tennessee on October 24, 1864. https://tnmuseum.org/Stories/posts/the-history-of-emancipation-day-in-tennessee