Why Is It Called Juneteenth?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Juneteenth

honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States

. The name “Juneteenth” is a blend of two words: “June” and “nineteenth.” It's believed to be the oldest African-American , with annual celebrations on June 19th in different parts of the country dating back to 1866.

How did Juneteenth get its name?

What Juneteenth represents. First things first: Juneteenth gets its name

from combining “June” and “nineteenth,” the day that Granger arrived in Galveston

, bearing a message of freedom for the slaves there.

What does Juneteenth really stand for?

What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called

Emancipation Day

or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”

Is it OK to say Happy Juneteenth?

Just say ‘

Happy Juneteenth!

‘ The easiest way to wish someone a Happy Juneteenth is by messaging them and wishing them a fulfilled day. Similar to Black History Month, and other important anniversaries to Black Americans, it is important to acknowledge it as an American holiday, even if you do not celebrate it.

When did slavery end in Canada?

The historian Marcel Trudel catalogued the existence of about 4,200 slaves in Canada between 1671 and

1834

, the year slavery was abolished in the British Empire. About two-thirds of these were Native and one-third were Blacks. The use of slaves varied a great deal throughout the course of this period.

Will federal employees get Juneteenth off in 2021?

Date Holiday Friday, December 24***** Christmas Day

What should I read for Juneteenth?

  • Four Hundred Souls. by Ibram X. …
  • A Little Devil in America. by Hanif Abdurraqib. …
  • The Warmth of Other Suns. by Isabel Wilkerson. …
  • How to Be an Antiracist. by Ibram X. …
  • Between the World and Me. by Ta-Nehisi Coates. …
  • Homegoing. by Yaa Gyasi. …
  • Caste (Oprah's Book Club) by Isabel Wilkerson. …
  • I'm Still Here.

Do we get paid for Juneteenth?

President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a bill that makes Juneteenth a federal holiday, meaning

most federal employees get a paid day off Friday

.

What companies are observe Juneteenth?

  • Apple. The iPhone maker is giving US corporate employees a day off on Friday. …
  • Instacart. The gig app company is observing Juneteenth as a company holiday and a “day of reflection” on Friday. …
  • Lyft. …
  • Nike. …
  • Peloton. …
  • Starbucks. …
  • Twitter. …
  • Zillow.

What are the colors for Juneteenth?

The official Juneteenth flag was

red, white, and blue

displaying that all American slaves and their descendants were Americans. However, many in the Black community have adopted the Pan-African flag, red black and green. The colors represent the blood, soil and prosperity of Africa and its people.

How do you know if Juneteenth is working?

  1. Have your employees share their personal reflections. …
  2. Consider giving your employees paid time off. …
  3. Participate in local events. …
  4. Invite guest speakers. …
  5. Provide opportunities for reflection and giving. …
  6. Transparently share Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.

Are there slaves in Canada?

There are an estimated 45.8 million people around the world currently trapped in modern slavery, including 6,500 people in Canada, a charity said Tuesday.

Is there still slavery today?

The Global Slavery Index (2018) estimated that

roughly 40.3 million individuals

are currently caught in modern slavery, with 71% of those being female, and 1 in 4 being children. … Its estimated a total of 40 million people are trapped within modern slavery, with 1 in 4 of them being children.

Who owned slaves in Canada?

Six out of the 16 members of the first Parliament of the Upper Canada Legislative Assembly (1792–96) were slave owners or had family members who owned slaves:

John McDonell, Ephraim Jones, Hazelton Spencer, David William Smith, and François Baby all

owned slaves, and Philip Dorland's brother Thomas owned 20 slaves.

Is Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2022?

President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday that was passed by Congress to set aside Juneteenth, or June 19, as a federal holiday. … Pritzker closed government offices in his state as well, though the new holiday would not have been observed until 2023, since June 19 falls on

a Sunday in 2022

.

Will Juneteenth be a paid holiday in 2022?

Stanley Black & Decker said it would begin officially observing Juneteenth as a company holiday for all U.S. employees starting

in 2022

, but also quickly rolled out a companywide day off on Friday.

Maria Kunar
Author
Maria Kunar
Maria is a cultural enthusiast and expert on holiday traditions. With a focus on the cultural significance of celebrations, Maria has written several blogs on the history of holidays and has been featured in various cultural publications. Maria's knowledge of traditions will help you appreciate the meaning behind celebrations.