How to Celebrate Juneteenth in Portland

Juneteenth is our country’s second independence day, as the National Museum of African American History and Culture refers to it. Short for “June Nineteenth,” it is also known as “Freedom Day” and “Emancipation Day.”

What is Juneteenth?

On Jan. 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all Confederate slaves were now free. In the lead-up to the end of the Civil War in April 1865, Union soldiers traveled throughout Confederate states to read the proclamation to slaves.

On June 19, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to ensure that all slaves were freed. Slaves in Texas were the last to hear about their freedom. The following year, June 19 became a day of remembrance and “Jubilee Day” for the more than 250,000 newly freed slaves. Juneteenth has since been widely celebrated in the African American community.

Road to Federal Recognition

The summer of 2020’s nationwide protests against police brutality and for racial justice brought an increased awareness of Juneteenth and its significance. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden officially signed Juneteenth into law as the 11th federally recognized U.S. holiday.

Where To Celebrate Juneteenth

Today

Saturday

Sunday

Tuesday

Wednesday, June 19