University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt Celebrates Juneteenth
6/19/2023 1:24:00 PM | General
Resources and events on campus and around the city
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas received their freedom. It is now the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
It was on June 19, 1865, that Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the American Civil War had ended and that the enslaved were now free. This was more than two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had become official Jan. 1, 1863.
The word "Juneteenth" was coined in the late 1890s and the celebration grew, especially in the Black community in the southern United States, then moved northward. It became more widely known nationally during the struggle for racial equality in the 1960s.
Historically, Juneteenth celebrations were a time for family members to re-commit themselves to freedom and the fight for equality. Rodeos, fishing derbies, barbecues, and baseball games were among the Juneteenth activities that became popular community events. In more recent history, Juneteenth has evolved into a celebration of Black American life featuring educational events and cultural activities.
In 2021, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making June 19 a federal holiday.
Although the University is closed on Juneteenth 2023, Pitt is hosting a celebration as well as a community volunteer event.
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