Juneteenth, Philadelphia, and the Civil War
(Note: This is an archived website section. The Juneteenth events listed here are from the 2006 celebrations.) On June 19th of 1865, Union General Gordon Granger took charge of the state of Texas and informed the nation’s last remaining slaves of their freedom, almost two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Celebrations of Juneteenth began the following year and continue to this day. African Americans in Texas pooled their funds to buy land for their Juneteenth celebrations, which included a prayer service, speakers, readings of the Emancipation Proclamation, recitations, food, and games and entertainments. Juneteenth celebrations showcased the accomplishments of African Americans in their communities and provided an important focus for community pride. It is celebrated in more than 200 American cities and is a state holiday in Texas.
Juneteenth has a special meaning in Philadelphia, where we can commemorate a long and storied history of African American achievement and leadership. Beginning in the days of the early American republic and throughout the Civil War era, Philadelphia was home to arguably the largest free black community in the nation. A true society of free blacks in Philadelphia had built successful careers as business owners; they established and taught in schools, and reached out to the community through self-help organizations. Articulate and dedicated, they provided speakers and leadership to countless groups of freed slaves and fraternal organizations, and established Philadelphia as an important stop on the Underground Railroad. They sent missionaries and teachers to work in new churches and schools in communities being built by former slaves, and the region became a primary center for the recruitment and training for the United States Colored Troops and their officers. Philadelphia’s African American past encompasses a wealth of experiences Join the Greater Philadelphia Tourism & Marketing Corporation, the Philadelphia Juneteenth Coalition, the Civil War History Consortium, the U.S. Colored Troops, and many Philadelphia museums and historic sites in a four-day commemoration of Juneteenth and African Americans’ quest for freedom. For more Civil War related activities in Pennsylvania, see VisitPa.com. Illustration, upper left: Detail, Freedom to the Slaves, 1863, courtesy The Library Company of Philadelphia. Next: About Juneteenth>> |
