The Emancipation Proclamation was originally issued on September 22, 1862, however, it did not become official until January 1, 1863. It took until June 19, 1865, two and a half years later, when Union General Gordon Granger and 2,000 federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take possession of the state, for the news that slavery had been abolished. The news was so inspiring, the celebration and joy that was taking place in Texas, spread across the nation.

However, there are several versions to explain the two and a half year delay. According to Juneteenth.com:

Often told is the story of a messenger who was murdered on his way to Texas with the news of freedom. Another, is that the news was deliberately withheld by the enslavers to maintain the labor force on the plantations. And still another, is that federal troops actually waited for the slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. All or none of them could be true. For whatever the reason, conditions in Texas remained status quo well beyond what was statutory.

Once General Granger took possession of the state from Confederate States, he was quick to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

General Granger’s first order of business was to read to the people of TX, General Order Number 3:

The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property, between former masters and slaves and the connection heretofore existing between them, becomes that between employer and hired labor. The Freedmen are advised to remain at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts; and they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.

Over a century later, Texas became the first of 25 states to officially recognize Juneteenth. However, Juneteenth is not really consider as an official holiday. In fact, many people view this holiday as a day that is only celebrated by African Americans, particularly in the Texas. Nevertheless, Juneteenth has spread to California, “where San Francisco has held one of the nation’s largest Juneteenth celebrations for the last five-plus decades.”

It is sad to see that only a few places celebrate this day. Juneteenth should really be celebrated as nation wide so we as a nation can reflect on this nation’s slave legacy in order to bring closure to one of the darkest chapters in American history. Not only will the nation begin to heal, but it will also make sure that the sins our past will never be repeated by a future generation.

We must revive and preserve Juneteenth not only as the end of a painful chapter in American history, but also as a reminder of the importance of preserving the lines of communication between the powerful and the powerless in our society.

As a Latino, I feel it is vital that we as a community celebrate this day with our African American brothers and sisters, in hopes to bring solidarity and to tear down the walls that divide us.

We must keep in mind that the Spaniards also instituted slavery in every corner of their American empire, and Mexico is no exception. African laborer played an important role in the economic complexities of colonial Mexico. And, in some parts of Mexico, they made cultural contributions.

African roots can be found along side with our indigenous heritage. The long-established Siete Partidas laws of Spain granted slaves the right to select their spouses and during that time, the majority of slaves brought to Mexico were male. In Recovering History, Reconstructing Race: The Indian, Black, and White Roots of Mexican Americans, Martha Menchaca wrote,

“…this legislation was of monumental importance because it became the gateway for the children of slaves to gain their freedom. Due to the lobbying efforts of the Catholic Church the children of Black male slaves and Indian women were declared free and given the right to live with their mother.”

Unfortunately, these facts continue to be ignored because racial amnesia over African roots is common among us Latino/as. Educating ourselves is the only was we are able to regain our memory.

By celebrating this day with our African American brothers and sisters, it will help wake us up from our own racial amnesia and take pride in our African heritage that runs through our veins and respect the struggles our African ancestors went through as they too were brought here to the Americas as slaves by the Spanish.

Happy Juneteenth Day everybody.