Also known as Emancipation Day, Black Independence Day or Jubilee Day, Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived with federal troops in Galveston, Texas, and issued an order informing the last enslaved people in Texas that they were free. This came more than two months after the end of the Civil War and 2½ years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves in the Southern states.
It wasn’t until the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in December 1865 that slavery was abolished throughout the entire country.
Why is it important?
Juneteenth marks a date of major significance in American history and shows us that freedom and racial equality have always been a hard-fought battle for black Americans – a battle that continues to this day.It is a reminder that "nobody is free until everybody is free." It should be celebrated as the day when all Americans were liberated and created equal. It should be a day to reflect, to learn, and grow as a nation and as a people.
Juneteenth is a national holiday
President Biden on Thursday, June 17, 2021, signed a bill to recognize Juneteenth — the celebration to commemorate the end of chattel slavery in the United States — as a federal holiday. Juneteenth National Independence Day became the 12th legal public holiday, including Inauguration Day, and the first new one created since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was signed into law in 1983 by then-President Ronald Reagan.
UCSF EVENTS
BCH Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration
Thursday, June 16, 2022 | 4:30 pm - 6 pm
MLK Building Courtyard (CHORI)
5700 Martin Luther King Jr Way | Oakland, CA 94609
UCSF requires that all staff attending in-person events are fully vaccinated
Please join us as we gather to honor and celebrate this important day in history with delicious food, refreshments, live music and dancing! Live music will be provided by Pure Ecstacy. All are welcome!
Please RSVP by Tuesday, June 14
COMPLIMENTARY PARKING AVAILABLE: Please enter the parking lot on 58th St. (North Oakland Senior Center side)
Questions? Email Abdur Shemsu at [email protected]
HISTORY OF JUNETEENTH
Opal Lee is known as the Grandmother of Juneteenth
Lee, who's from Fort Worth, Texas, sat in the front row as Biden, 78, signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. She also received a standing ovation from the crowd at the behest of the president, who called her an "incredible woman."
The moment was a lifetime in the making for Lee, a dedicated activist who has spent decades working to get Juneteenth recognized as a national holiday. The cause is exceptionally personal for Lee, whose home was set on fire by white rioters on Juneteenth in 1939.
Juneteenth Flag
The original Juneteenth flag was created in 1997 by the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF) founder, Ben Haith. While the Juneteenth flag has the same colors as the American flag, it is a unique symbol of American freedom and Black history.
The original red, white and blue design later underwent revisions in the 2000s, and the date June 19, 1865 was added to the flag. According to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, the Juneteenth flag includes an exaggerated star of Texas “bursting with new freedom throughout the land.”
Emancipation Proclamation
January 1, 1863
A Transcription
By the President of the United States of America:
A Proclamation.
Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:
"That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.
"That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States; and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States."
Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.
And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.
And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.
And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.
And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.
In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.
By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN
WILLIAM H. SEWARD, Secretary of State.
BAY AREA COMMUNITY EVENTS
Juneteenth on the Waterfront: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 11, Embarcadero Ferry Terminal Plaza, San Francisco. Support local Black-owned businesses and kick off a month of Juneteenth celebrations in San Francisco with a day of fun, community and delicious, handcrafted food. Free. cuesa.org/event/2022/juneteenth-waterfront
The Blackout – A Juneteenth Function: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 11, Esther’s Park, 3408 Third Ave., Sacramento. Honor Black culture and Black-owned businesses with a Juneteenth celebration including live entertainment, art, food trucks and vendors. Free. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3NWhHx0
Juneteenth Celebration and Lunch: 12 to 3 p.m. June 11, 251 City Park Way, San Bruno. The San Bruno Culture and Arts Commission and the San Bruno Public Library invite you to celebrate Juneteenth in person at San Bruno City Park. Come enjoy music, community, crafts and opening remarks from community leaders. Free. sanbruno.ca.gov/
Santa Cruz Juneteenth Trivia Time: 5 to 7 p.m. June 11, London Nelson Community Center, 301 Center St., Santa Cruz. Join us for this insightful, collective share of Juneteenth and Santa Cruz black history. Put your knowledge to the test by participating in a Black history trivia game with prizes. $15-20. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3NhphSF
Juneteenth Food and Music Festival: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 17, Liberation Park, 7101 Foothill Blvd., Oakland. Celebrate the liberation of generations with this festival featuring a paint and sip workshop, a fashion show, games, prizes, live music and an all-day skate party, plus more than 60 Bay Area POC vendors. $0-45. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3aEXz41
Juneteenth Tiburon Celebration: 4 to 7 p.m. June 17, 1704 Tiburon Blvd., Tiburon. Celebrate Juneteenth and commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. with live jazz, poetry readings and guest speakers. Free. tiburonchamber.org/
Juneteenth in the Streets Festival: June 12-18, San Jose. This Juneteenth experience will feature a week of events beginning June 12 and culminating with the Juneteenth in the Street Festival on June 18, complete with local food vendors, artists, musicians, businesses and community services. Free. sjaacsa.org/juneteenth/home
Sonoma County Juneteenth: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 18, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park, 1671 Hendley St., Santa Rosa. Join us at Sonoma County’s 52nd Annual MLK Juneteenth Community Festival for live entertainment, food, games and activities. Our history is our strength. Free. sonomacountyjuneteenth.com/
City of Richmond Juneteenth Parade and Festival: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 18, Richmond. Celebrate Richmond’s first in-person Juneteenth festival since 2019 and honor the history of Juneteenth. Parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Booker T. Anderson Center and ends at Nichol Park, where a festival of food, live music and more awaits. Free. ci.richmond.ca.us/
Juneteenth Family Block Party: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 18, Suisun Waterfront, 680 Main St., Suisun City. Celebrate Juneteenth with amazing food, music to get your toes tapping, artisans, vendors and fun activities including a kids zone and a community paint party. Free. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3NgZ5I4
Juneteenth — Freedom Day at MoAD: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 18, Museum of the African Diaspora, 685 Mission St., San Francisco. To honor the holiday, the Museum of the African Diaspora will be offering free complimentary admission to their current exhibitions on Juneteenth. Free. moadsf.org/
Juneteenth Festival by SF Citywide BSU: 12 to 5 p.m. June 18, Jerry Garcia Amphitheater, 100 John F. Shelley Drive, San Francisco. This festival is a day of local entrepreneurs, creators and artists, fully planned by the San Francisco Citywide Black Student Union, a youth-led collaborative that emphasizes the importance of Black culture and youth in San Francisco. Free. sanfranciscocitywidebsu.org/
Juneteenth Remembrance Project: 2 to 4 p.m. June 18, Sonoma Community Center,
276 E. Napa St., Sonoma. The Remembrance Project is a community art project that creates activist art banners for social justice. Participants in our Juneteenth workshop will design quilt blocks that highlight their critique of issues plaguing their local or larger communities. Free. sonomacommunitycenter.org/
Juneteenth at 40 Acres Block Party: 4 to 9 p.m. June 18, Esther’s Park, 3408 Third Ave., Sacramento. Celebrate Juneteenth with a complete lineup of music, art and entertainment on the main stage, support local Black-owned street and food vendors, and a kids zone with interactive activities. Free. bit.ly/3mcyFLz
Juneteenth In The Town Jubilee: 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 18, For The Culture, 701 Clay St., Oakland. On the anniversary of the last slaves in Texas learning of their freedom, join this celebration which includes an evening full of Black art and culture, special musical guests, distinguished chefs and more. $125. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3zgjOr6
BlaCOEUR — A Black Culture Series: 6 to 10 p.m. June 18, Westfield San Francisco Centre, 865 Market St., San Francisco. BlaCOEUR is a series of elevated experiences devoted to the rich culture of San Francisco, assembling the most gifted local chefs, musicians, artists, technologists and creative visionaries of the Black Diaspora. $60-125. westfield.com/sanfrancisco
Livermore Valley Arts Celebrates Juneteenth: June 18-19, Bankhead Theater and Plaza, Livermore. On June 18, motivational speaker, radio personality and comedian Faith Alpher will present a unique curriculum event ideal for today’s heightened awareness of racial justice. On June 19, Livermore Valley Arts has partnered with Tri-Valley for Black Lives to host a Juneteenth celebration on the Bankhead Plaza. Free. livermorearts.org/
Afrocentric Oakland’s Juneteenth Weekend: June 18-19, Lake Merritt Amphitheater, Oakland. Join the PanAfrican Wellness Fest June 18 for a day of meditation, mental health, yoga, Tai Chi, spoken word and interactive art installations. June 19 brings Fam Bam X, a full-day celebration promoting family, community, culture and love with music, art pieces, a youth zone and a Black Father’s Day tribute. Free. afrooak.com/
Juneteenth with the Healdsburg Jazz Festival: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 19, Healdsburg Plaza, Healdsburg. Celebrate Juneteenth with an performances that encompass the wide range of Black music and art including gospel, early blues, New Orleans jazz, funk, R&B, spoken word and straight ahead modern swing. The festival also includes educational areas and arts and crafts for the kids. Free. healdsburgjazz.org/
Juneteenth SF Freedom Celebration: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 18-19, 1330 Fillmore St., San Francisco. Thousands will be in attendance as we commemorate Juneteenth in the city’s historic Fillmore District with a celebration spanning eight city blocks and featuring performers, carnival rides and family-friendly activities. Free. juneteenth-sf.org/
Juneteenth at the Children’s Discovery Museum: 9:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. June 19, 180 Woz Way, San Jose. Celebrate African-American culture with the museum’s partner, Silicon Valley African Film Festival (SVAFF). Watch animated shorts, find your rhythm during a drumming workshop, and catch the beat by making your very own drum to practice at home. $15. cdm.org/
Yes To Juneteenth in Albany: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 19, Abrams Claghorn Gallery, 1251 Solano Ave., Albany. Join this celebration, which includes live music, dancing, a craft fair and food trucks. Free. Eventbrite: bit.ly/3NdVb2u
Freedom Festival: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 19, Mill Valley Downtown Plaza, 87 Throckmorton Ave., Mill Valley. This inaugural event will celebrate African American Independence Day with live music, poetry, storytelling and family-friendly activities. We welcome Hip Hop for a Change to celebrate diversity in our community as we amplify Black voices. Free. cityofmillvalley.org/
Berkeley Juneteenth Festival: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 19, Celebrate Juneteenth and support the Black community at the 35th Annual Berkeley Juneteenth Festival, where family fun and entertainment is the central focus. Free. berkeleyjuneteenth.org/
East County Juneteenth Celebration: 12 to 5 p.m. June 19, 790 Second St., Brentwood. Celebrate African- American culture at this festival featuring speakers, food, craft booths and music. celebrateantioch.org/
Juneteenth by Bayview Opera House: 12:30 to 4 p.m. June 19, Memorial Theatre, 4705 Third St., San Francisco. Celebrate Juneteenth at the Ruth Williams Memorial Theatre with an artist expo, documentary film screening and panel discussion. Free. bvoh.org/
Juneteenth Celebration at American Canyon: 1 p.m. June 19, Main Street Park, 6040 Eucalyptus Drive, American Canyon. Celebrate the history and culture of the African American community through music, art and speakers, who will reflect on the past and honor the present, as we look to the future. Free. bayarearegistry.com/
Juneteenth-Proud To Be — Partner Painting: 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 19, 548 Contra Costa Blvd., Pleasant Hill. Celebrate Juneteenth with a peaceful night of partner painting. $42. paintingwithatwist.com/
SF Black Wall Street Juneteenth Celebration: June 19, Gilman Park, San Francisco. This celebration of Black culture and economic health includes food vendors, the Black Millionaire Marketplace, live performances, amusement park rides for children and many other community resources and activities. Free. sfblackwallstreet.com/juneteenth-2022
Marin City Juneteenth Festival: June 19, Rocky Graham Park, 800 Drake Ave., Sausalito. Join Marin City’s sixth Annual Juneteenth festival with music, food and vendor booths. This year’s theme is Looking Towards the Future. Free. juneteenthcommunityfestival.info/
BOOKS
VIDEOS