The Freedom of Juneteenth

By Attiyya Atkins

This is the first year that Juneteenth is celebrated as a holiday by Broward County government. Juneteenth is short for June 19th, the day in 1865 when the slaves in Galveston, Texas found out that they were free. The message, while pertinent, was two years too late as President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves, on January 1, 1863.

The Emancipation Proclamation called for all enslaved people to be “forever free.”

While Black people across the nation can attest that true freedom seems like lightyears away, Black people have made significant progress in the quest for personal, financial, and emotional freedom. In 1866, the freed slaves in Texas began celebrating their freedom on “Jubilee Day” on June 19. The tradition continued with annual festivals, barbecues, and other activities.

In Pompano Beach, it’s celebrated with an annual Blues and Sweet Potato Pie Festival held at Apollo Park, 1580 NW 3rd Ave., Pompano Beach. This year’s event will be held on June 17 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is free. There will be spoken word performances, dancers, live bands, kids game area, and the famous sweet potato pie bake-off.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but this year in Broward County it is celebrated as a county holiday, with government buildings being closed. Juneteenth is the longest running African American holiday.