WHY WE CELEBRATE Juneteenth

Juneteenth: Setting the Record Straight

Juneteenth is often misunderstood. It does not mark the end of slavery.

While the Emancipation Proclamation (1863) freed enslaved people in Confederate states, it didn’t apply to Union-loyal states like Kentucky, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Slavery continued there until the 13th Amendment was ratified in December 1865—months after Juneteenth.

Even then, freedom wasn’t immediate. Enslavers withheld the news, and many were forced into exploitative labor like sharecropping.

Slavery’s legacy continued through laws that upheld forced labor, a system that persists in mass incarceration today.

Juneteenth, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the 13th Amendment marked turning points—but the fight for Black liberation continues.

What Juneteenth Celebrates:

Even after the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery in Texas continued. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865—over two years later—that federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce emancipation and declare all enslaved people free.

A year later, in 1866, newly freed Black communities in Texas held the first “Jubilee Day,” a celebration that later became Juneteenth. It was a day of music, barbecues, religious services, and community gatherings. Over time, Juneteenth spread beyond Texas, becoming a national symbol of Black resistance, resilience, and joy.

Why Celebrate Juneteenth With Us:

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but at Mx. Juneteenth, we don’t center federal recognition. Framing it through government action shifts focus away from the people who fought for their own freedom.

Instead, we celebrate Juneteenth as a Black-led, self-determined expression of liberation. With a deep focus on Black Queerness, intersectionality, community care, and expressive joy, we honor the true spirit of Jubilee Day.

2025 marks our 5th anniversary of Mx. Juneteenth, a milestone in building a tradition that reflects the true essence of freedom—claimed, celebrated, and carried forward by us.

Juneteenth wasn’t given to us—we claimed it. That’s why we celebrate.

Join us in honoring the legacy, resilience, and joy of Black freedom.