The Juneteenth holiday celebrates a crucial moment in the American struggle for freedom and justice. Celebrations of emancipation, like Juneteenth, are not just historical markers. They are living traditions that honor the long struggles, sacrifices, losses and triumphs of those who fought for freedom.
They commemorate the ongoing journey to full freedom. Discussion of history can be a complicated matter between communities and cultures. Many people would prefer to avoid it altogether.
The Sema Hadithi African American Heritage and Culture Foundation tries to cultivate understanding and truth that gives room for growth and unity among diverse communities. By uncovering and sharing the stories of Black Americans and the Native Nations who were also freed at the end of the Civil War, we protect the legacy of their struggles and contributions as we remember and honor them. Emancipation Day and Juneteenth The way we celebrate freedom in the United States has changed over time.
Emancipation Day, first celebrated on April 16, 1862 , recognized 3,000 freed enslaved people in Washington, D.C. It is a milestone advocated by President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Watch Night, or Freedom’s Eve, on December 31, 1862 , was a night of anticipation and prayer as African Americans awaited the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. This tradition exemplifies the collective hope of a people yearning for freedom. As news of the proclamation spread from Virginia to Mississipp.