Juneteenth celebrations honor a movement in the wake of George Floyd’s death

They are celebrations that bring out the community, held on June 19, called Juneteenth. But how much do you really know about the holiday and it’s history?

"It is a celebration of the end of slavery here in America," said Lee Jordan, the Midwest Regional Director and State Director of National Juneteenth.

History reveals the Emancipation Proclamation was formally issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, declaring all slaves be freed in slave states.

But it would take more than two years before that message, and freedom, reached Texas, the most remote of the slave states.

Juneteenth celebrations around the Twin Cities

"Juneteenth is technically our Independence Day," Jordan said.

Jordan said, following the death of George Floyd and mass demonstrations in Minnesota and around the world, Juneteenth events this year will celebrate a movement.

"The youth are coming in and helping to carry this banner and I’m so very, very happy to see that, it’s inspiring to me and I want to continue to be the link between history and the future," Jordan said.

Pop-up Juneteenth events are being created, local companies are changing policies making Juneteenth a paid holiday, and some states are doing the same.

"For a long time, people said, ‘That’s their holiday, that has nothing to do with me,’ yes, it has something to do with you, it has something to do with me, it has something to do with all of us," said Sheletta Brundidge, a community activist and advocate.

Whether in-person or virtually this year, advocates urge people to learn about Juneteenth and get involved.

"This is the moment, be a part of the movement, don’t sit on the sidelines on this one, be on the right side of history," Brundidge added.

You can see a list of Juneteenth events in the Twin Cities here.