Black Independence Day Archives - View from the Front Porch

19 06, 2025

Are you celebrating Juneteenth?

By judythemorgan|2025-06-18T10:07:22-05:00June 19th, 2025|Holidays|1 Comment

Today is Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth.” Also known as “Jubilee Day,” “Black Independence Day,” and “Freedom Day.

It may be new to you if you’ve never lived in Texas.

Here, the day has been celebrated since June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, when 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to take control of the state and enforce the emancipation of all enslaved people. Learn more about the history HERE.

Since that date, community gatherings filled with food, music, and fellowship have been held in Texas.

On June 17, 2021, President Biden’s proclamation made Juneteenth a federal holiday. Most national banks, the United States Postal Service, and all nonessential federal, state, and city government offices will be closed. Plus, the stock market will also be closed for the holiday.

How will you be celebrating?

20 06, 2022

A Twofer Holiday and One’s New

By judythemorgan|2022-06-19T12:52:42-05:00June 20th, 2022|Holidays, Make Me Think Monday|0 Comments

This month Father’s Day and Juneteenth fell on the same day–June 19. Lots of social media about the Father’s Day holiday.Not so much about Juneteenth. It may be new to you if you’ve never lived in Texas.

Also known as “Jubilee Day,” “Black Independence Day,” and “Freedom Day, June 19 only became a national holiday last year.

Read President Biden’s proclamation HERE.

Emancipation of slaves at the end of the Civil War took effect in 1863 with President Abraham Lincoln’s proclamation, sadly, however, slaves in Texas would not be freed until two years later on June 19, 1865. On that day, 2,000 troops arrived in Galveston Bay and announced the freedom of enslaved Black people by executive decree.

“Juneteenth” has been celebrated in Texas ever since then with community gatherings filled with food, music, and fellowship. Now it’s a national day to celebrate freedom.

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth HERE.

If you didn’t celebrate Freedom Day yesterday, no worries. Mark your calendar for next year.

We also honored our fathers—a birth father, a stepfather, a relative or friend, whoever served in a father role. My father is gone now so the day is always a bit sad for me, but old pictures and memories bring a smile.