Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people there were free more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

In this episode of Barely Historical, we explore the history of Juneteenth, why freedom was delayed in Texas, how General Order No. 3 finally reached a quarter million enslaved people, and why Juneteenth became one of the most important dates in American history.

We discuss the myths surrounding Juneteenth, the reality of delayed enforcement, the search for separated families after emancipation, the origins of Juneteenth celebrations, Emancipation Park, and the people who carried this holiday forward for generations, including Felix Haywood, Jack Yates, Al Edwards, Lula Briggs Galloway, Sheila Jackson Lee, and Opal Lee.

This is a heavier episode than our usual fare, and we want to acknowledge that this is not our story. We are two white women doing our best to learn, listen, and share what we learned with care and respect. We hope we did this history justice. If we inspire you to learn more, please do. The voices, books, historians, and communities who have preserved this history deserve to be your next stop.

Recommended Reading & Resources

📚 On Juneteenth — Annette Gordon-Reed

📚 How the Word Is Passed — Clint Smith

📚 Help Me to Find My People — Heather Andrea Williams

📚 Juneteenth: A Children's Story — Opal Lee

🏛 National Museum of African American History and Culture

🏛 Emancipation Park Conservancy

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Hosts: JoLynne & Amanda

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