In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognised as a federal holiday. The holiday is meant to celebrate June 19, 1865, the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation. Despite taking effect on January 1st, 1863, deeply southern states still kept slaves due to the lack of a Union military presence around to ensure they were enforcing the law.
Early Juneteenth celebrations were used as a way to empower and educate newly freed Black people by providing them with information on how to vote. Since Black people were barred from using certain facilities, like parks, they would often gather at churches or public bodies of water for their festivities.
Music is a deep part of Black culture, being used to tell stories, celebrate, and resist unfair conditions. Thus, it is important to take time to listen to songs created by Black artists that provide insight into the Black experience and lift Black voices.
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