Juneteenth

Sycamore Hill Memorial

Image sourced from City of Greenville, NC

Honoring Freedom and Reflection

Observed annually on June 19, Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, honors the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States were finally informed of their freedom. This occurred more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. The day serves as a powerful reminder of our nation's journey toward equality. Juneteenth is a time to honor freedom, reflect on the legacy of slavery, and recommit to building a united community.

  1. History
  2. Celebrations & Events

Pathway to Freedom

On June 19, 1865—two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation—Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas. He delivered General Order No. 3, announcing that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This marked the first time that freedom was enforced throughout the entire country.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which took effect on January 1, 1863, declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states. However, it excluded Union-loyal border states and was difficult to enforce in remote regions like Texas, where few Union troops were stationed. Many slaveholders continued their practices, and some relocated to Texas to evade federal enforcement.

It was only with the arrival of federal troops in Texas on June 19, 1865, after the surrender of Confederate forces, that emancipation was fully enforced. This is the day we now recognize as Juneteenth, blending the words “June” and “nineteenth.”

In December 1865, the 13th Amendment was ratified, formally abolishing slavery across the United States.

Texas became the first state to officially recognize Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980. National support grew in the following decades, led in part by Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who introduced a resolution in 2020 that gained over 200 co-sponsors.

On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed legislation declaring Juneteenth a federal holiday. At the White House signing, he reflected:

“Great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments. They don’t ignore those moments of the past. They embrace them... In remembering those moments, we begin to heal and grow stronger.”

Learn More About Juneteenth

To explore the history and significance of Juneteenth, visit the following educational resources:

We encourage all Pitt County residents to use this day not only to rest, but also to reflect, learn, and help shape a stronger, more unified community.