Juneteenth: A day Black Americans connect to their source.

When the river bears in mind its source, definitely it will never perish. Juneteenth ensures that, Blacks living in America never perish! 

What is Juneteenth? 

Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June and nineteenth), happens to a special day for blacks in the United States to commemorate the end of slavery. 

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States.

Celebrated on every 19th of June, Juneteenth grew with more participation from descendants as they treated the day as their Independence Day, according to the Texas State Library.

 It spread to other states and has been celebrated every year since. This celebration is yet to be a National official holiday but that of 47 states official holiday. 

Hawaii, North Dakota and South Dakota are the only states without an official recognition.

It was gathered that, in previous years, African American families across the nation celebrated with cookouts, parades, music and community festivals.

Red velvet cake, barbecued ribs and fruit punch are usually among the bill of fare.

History of Juneteenth 

Wikipedia has it that, the Celebrations date to 1866, at first involving church-centered community gatherings in Texas. It spread across the South and became more commercialized in the 1920s and 1930s, often centering on a food festival. During the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, it was eclipsed by the struggle for postwar civil rights, but grew in popularity again in the 1970s with a focus on African American freedom and arts.[10] By the 21st century, Juneteenth was celebrated in most major cities across the United States. Activists are campaigning for the United States Congress to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday. Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in 47 of the 50 U.S. states.

Other sources have it that, President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation was effective Jan. 1, 1863, but the news took time to travel. It wasn't until June 19, 1865, when the Union army brought word of the proclamation to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, making them among the last to be freed.

Dr. Molefi Asante, chair of the Department of African American Studies at Temple University said that June 19, 1865, is a day that black Americans should never forget.

"It is relevant in 2020, and I am hoping that in 3020 it is still relevant," Asante stated.

How Juneteenth would be celebrated in 2020?

2020 has a lot of stories to be told after it ended. Ranging from police brutality to the unprecedented Corona pandemic, the celebration is a protest this year. 

This is majorly in agitation to stop the "inhumane" police brutality, proliferation of racism on black lives and other " minorities" in the society.

Friday's celebrations will be marked from coast to coast with marches and demonstrations of civil disobedience, along with expressions of black joy in spite of an especially traumatic time for the nation.

Juneteenth 2020 themed, "A Celebration of Overcoming" will be aired on some local Tv stations and international.