In Honor of Juneteenth

Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States of America. 

Today is a good day to honor and reflect on the legacy of Juneteenth, while looking to the future as we continue to progress towards change and equality. 

Are you able to answer the following trivia questions about Juneteenth? (PS, scroll to the bottom for the answers, no need to Google search :)

1 -- Approximately how long after the Emancipation Proclamation were all enslaved black people decreed to be free?

A) 6 months
B) immediately 
C) 2.5 years
D) 1.5 years

2 -- What state did slavery end on Juneteenth?

A) Texas
B) Alabama
C) Mississippi
D) Georgia

3-- Who is often described as the "grandmother of Juneteenth"?

A) Dorothy Cotton
B) Opal Lee
C) Dorothy Height
D) Ella Baker

4 -- Which US President signed Juneteenth into law as a federal holiday?

A) Juneteenth is not yet a federal holiday
B) Former President Barack Obama
C) Former President Donal Trump
D) Current President Joe Biden 

5 -- What are some ways to honor Juneteenth?

A) Learn more about the history of Juneteenth 
B) Support Black-owned businesses 
C) Read or listen to literature written by Black authors and voices
D) Spend time with family and loved ones

Answers:

1 -- The correct answer is C: 2.5 years. 

2 -- The correct answer is A: Texas.

Then President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. But not everyone in Confederate territory were immediately freed. In fact, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to announce freedom for more than 250,000 enslaved black people, by executive decree. 

3 -- The correct answer is B: Opal Lee

4 -- The correct answer is D: Current President Joe Biden 

Dr. Opal Lee, a retired teacher and activist, is largely credited for rallying others behind a campaign to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. In 2016, she walked through her home city of Fort Worth, Texas and then in other cities before arriving in Washington, D.C. Opal’s Walk Campaign started as an initiative which aimed at gaining attention for Juneteenth to be made a National Holiday. With the help of thousands of supporters across the country, Dr. Opal Lee was able to make this dream possible. 

On Thursday, June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed into law: S. 475, the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act,” which designates Juneteenth National Independence Day as a legal public holiday.

5 -- The correct answer is all choices!

Learn more about the history of Juneteenth. Support Black-owned businesses. Read or listen to literature written by Black authors and voices. Spend time with family and loved ones. 

If you were not already doing these things, today is a good day to start. If you already are doing these things, continue to. 

All in all, reflecting on Juneteenth, the progress we’ve made since 1865 and the work that still needs to be done. There is yet hope for the future. 

Author: @ayocathy1 

Sources: Smithsonian, AP News, The White House