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Juneteenth: The History and Legacy of the Holiday that Commemorates the End of Slavery in the South
Celebrants of the first Independence Day took little time to ponder the status of equality between the races. Primarily, their attention was taken up with the overthrow of a foreign colonial power, one not accomplished through the will of an overwhelming majority. The bold move shaped by colonial legislators and promoted to the colonies by the founding fathers represented a first-of-its kind emancipation, as no European colony had so completely faced down its mother country in a test of wills. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that he hoped to see such a day solemnized with “Pomp and parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forevermore.” Americans have lived up to Adam’s vision, and the Independence Day celebration has remained vigorous through the centuries.
However, while July 4, 1776 signifies American independence from British rule, its leaders fell short in addressing racial equality within the new country. Most grievously, they failed to eradicate the most grievous wound of the infant nation’s first days, a social fracture running through a partisan argument over race. black Americans were neither culturally nor constitutionally protected from slavery and would not be so for nearly another century. Slavery would lead directly to the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation that Abraham Lincoln issued at the start of 1863 was only intended to serve as a starting point for specific regions of the country controlled by Union forces. In the rebellious states of the Deep South, the Emancipation Proclamation loomed as a threat in the eventuality of a Union triumph, and it represented a clear war aim that hoped to compel slaves to rise up against their masters or flee towards Union lines.
Inevitably, for many across the South, the news of the Emancipation Proclamation arrived slowly, and in other locales, the new was withheld entirely, sometimes by years. Slaveowners were not simply going to give up slaves, and in the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction, others created statewide legislation to preserve the old order under a different system of semantics. Credible African American citizenship did not come in a single wave, but intermittently through various regions and to varying degrees over the decades since.
As of June 19, 2021, Independence Day has been joined by a second federal holiday, a bookend to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that gives rise and adds a voice to the 13th Amendment and celebrates the freedoms and equal citizenship of all black citizens of the United States. In future years, “Juneteenth” will be marked alongside Independence Day as a celebration to include those who were barred from the benefits of the original event and intent. Viewed as an enhancement to and a completion of the original independence movement, Juneteenth merits the same community reverence and celebration based on the belief, in the words of Opal Lee, that “none of us [is] free till we’re all free.”
While Lee was described by President Joseph Biden as the “Grandmother of the Juneteenth movement,” she and others continue to worry that Juneteenth will become only a “black” holiday rather than a national one. Michael Erikson of Deseret News asserted that abolition of slavery is in itself “a profoundly religious event,” and should therefore remain free of political rancor or social partisanship.”
However, while July 4, 1776 signifies American independence from British rule, its leaders fell short in addressing racial equality within the new country. Most grievously, they failed to eradicate the most grievous wound of the infant nation’s first days, a social fracture running through a partisan argument over race. black Americans were neither culturally nor constitutionally protected from slavery and would not be so for nearly another century. Slavery would lead directly to the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation that Abraham Lincoln issued at the start of 1863 was only intended to serve as a starting point for specific regions of the country controlled by Union forces. In the rebellious states of the Deep South, the Emancipation Proclamation loomed as a threat in the eventuality of a Union triumph, and it represented a clear war aim that hoped to compel slaves to rise up against their masters or flee towards Union lines.
Inevitably, for many across the South, the news of the Emancipation Proclamation arrived slowly, and in other locales, the new was withheld entirely, sometimes by years. Slaveowners were not simply going to give up slaves, and in the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction, others created statewide legislation to preserve the old order under a different system of semantics. Credible African American citizenship did not come in a single wave, but intermittently through various regions and to varying degrees over the decades since.
As of June 19, 2021, Independence Day has been joined by a second federal holiday, a bookend to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation that gives rise and adds a voice to the 13th Amendment and celebrates the freedoms and equal citizenship of all black citizens of the United States. In future years, “Juneteenth” will be marked alongside Independence Day as a celebration to include those who were barred from the benefits of the original event and intent. Viewed as an enhancement to and a completion of the original independence movement, Juneteenth merits the same community reverence and celebration based on the belief, in the words of Opal Lee, that “none of us [is] free till we’re all free.”
While Lee was described by President Joseph Biden as the “Grandmother of the Juneteenth movement,” she and others continue to worry that Juneteenth will become only a “black” holiday rather than a national one. Michael Erikson of Deseret News asserted that abolition of slavery is in itself “a profoundly religious event,” and should therefore remain free of political rancor or social partisanship.”
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
77 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 13, 2021
21 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 1, 2021
An introduction to the history of the Juneteenth Holiday with a number of references for further reading.
August 22, 2021
Important information, poor copyediting
I appreciate the free books offered by Charles River Editors -- but the lack of adequate copyediting diminished the value of critical content.
I appreciate the free books offered by Charles River Editors -- but the lack of adequate copyediting diminished the value of critical content.
December 15, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars)
Juneteenth by Charles River Editors offers a clear, accessible overview of the historical forces that led to the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and its significance within the broader American story of freedom. The book does a solid job situating Juneteenth alongside July 4, 1776, highlighting the uncomfortable truth that American independence did not extend to Black Americans for nearly another century. The discussion of the Emancipation Proclamation, its limited immediate impact, and the delayed spread of freedom—particularly in the Deep South—is especially important and thoughtfully presented.
That said, the book often feels more like a concise historical briefing than a fully developed exploration. While it raises meaningful points about the slow, uneven path to emancipation and citizenship, it rarely goes beyond the surface. The narrative summarizes key events effectively but leaves little room for deeper analysis, personal voices, or sustained engagement with the lived experiences of those most affected. Readers already familiar with the subject may find much of the material familiar rather than illuminating.
The reflections on Juneteenth as a modern federal holiday and concerns that it could be marginalized rather than embraced nationally are timely and worthwhile. The inclusion of perspectives such as Opal Lee’s reinforces the idea that Juneteenth is not separate from American independence, but a necessary completion of it. However, these contemporary discussions could have benefited from more depth and nuance.
Overall, Juneteenth is a respectable introduction to the topic and a useful primer for readers new to the history, but it doesn’t quite dig deep enough to be truly impactful. Informative and relevant, but somewhat limited in scope.
Juneteenth by Charles River Editors offers a clear, accessible overview of the historical forces that led to the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and its significance within the broader American story of freedom. The book does a solid job situating Juneteenth alongside July 4, 1776, highlighting the uncomfortable truth that American independence did not extend to Black Americans for nearly another century. The discussion of the Emancipation Proclamation, its limited immediate impact, and the delayed spread of freedom—particularly in the Deep South—is especially important and thoughtfully presented.
That said, the book often feels more like a concise historical briefing than a fully developed exploration. While it raises meaningful points about the slow, uneven path to emancipation and citizenship, it rarely goes beyond the surface. The narrative summarizes key events effectively but leaves little room for deeper analysis, personal voices, or sustained engagement with the lived experiences of those most affected. Readers already familiar with the subject may find much of the material familiar rather than illuminating.
The reflections on Juneteenth as a modern federal holiday and concerns that it could be marginalized rather than embraced nationally are timely and worthwhile. The inclusion of perspectives such as Opal Lee’s reinforces the idea that Juneteenth is not separate from American independence, but a necessary completion of it. However, these contemporary discussions could have benefited from more depth and nuance.
Overall, Juneteenth is a respectable introduction to the topic and a useful primer for readers new to the history, but it doesn’t quite dig deep enough to be truly impactful. Informative and relevant, but somewhat limited in scope.
July 27, 2021
This book covers the subject of slavery, the Emancipation Proclomation and the Civil War. It covers some battles and the idea that the Union Blockade (Anaconda project) would severely damage the ability of the South to send or receive shipments of anything.
In the early part of the war there were some 4 million black slaves in the South. The South did not let any Blacks fight for the South until very, very late in the war while the North had some 200,000 Black soldiers.
Once the Civil War was finished the idea was that the South would be rebuilt and slavery done away with but the assassination of Lincoln threw a major wrench into the works. Texas, for example, didn't allow slaves to be told about it. The amendment was considered a moral imperative but the South after the war found work-arounds that made sure that the former slaves would not really be freed at all other than 'technically.'
The book goes into the Jim Crow laws, the black codes and various other things to try to keep black people 'in their place.' Some progress was made, though, and in 1890 the first Juneenth was used in a newspaper. The book covers what happened after that and includes a biography, ideas for further reading and foot notes.
The book does a good job discussing the background of what happened and the beginning of the idea of Juneenth but I think it could have had a little more about the current time, what is going on now to support the concept and how some whites opposes it.
In the early part of the war there were some 4 million black slaves in the South. The South did not let any Blacks fight for the South until very, very late in the war while the North had some 200,000 Black soldiers.
Once the Civil War was finished the idea was that the South would be rebuilt and slavery done away with but the assassination of Lincoln threw a major wrench into the works. Texas, for example, didn't allow slaves to be told about it. The amendment was considered a moral imperative but the South after the war found work-arounds that made sure that the former slaves would not really be freed at all other than 'technically.'
The book goes into the Jim Crow laws, the black codes and various other things to try to keep black people 'in their place.' Some progress was made, though, and in 1890 the first Juneenth was used in a newspaper. The book covers what happened after that and includes a biography, ideas for further reading and foot notes.
The book does a good job discussing the background of what happened and the beginning of the idea of Juneenth but I think it could have had a little more about the current time, what is going on now to support the concept and how some whites opposes it.
Currently reading
August 19, 2021Ok?
Not that good, information just not there. Waste of time to even read. Very one sided. The writing feel like an after thought.
Not that good, information just not there. Waste of time to even read. Very one sided. The writing feel like an after thought.
June 13, 2022
I was hoping to learn a little more about Juneteenth as a holiday and how it has been celebrated over the years. This book was more of a brief history of slavery in the United States.
August 6, 2023
A solid (though rather dry) short intro to the history of Juneteenth.
April 24, 2025
Short and informative.
December 5, 2025
A very informative intro to Juneteenth—straightforward, though a little dry
May 13, 2022
Juneteenth
I am shocked that I am just learning about this holiday at the age of 61. It was not taught in my school or my children's schools. That African American experience is rich in culture, tradegy and triump. This is a must read!. I learned so much. Enjoyed reading it.
I am shocked that I am just learning about this holiday at the age of 61. It was not taught in my school or my children's schools. That African American experience is rich in culture, tradegy and triump. This is a must read!. I learned so much. Enjoyed reading it.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews