Happy Junetenth 2023

By: Kalina Dickinson, Communications Intern

Happy Juneteenth! On this day, we celebrate the history, the resistance, the victories, the joys, the culture, and the resilience of African Americans in the United States. 

History of Juneteenth: 

One hundred and fifty-eight years ago today, on June 19th, 1865, two thousand Union troops went through Galveston Bay, Texas, announcing that all slaves were free by executive decree of the Emancipation Proclamation. 

While the proclamation passed on January 1, 1863, it did not reach all slaves until two years after its passing. This is partly because many slave owners refused to release their slaves and did not inform them of the proclamation. Another reason is because the Union soldiers were largely unable to swiftly enforce the proclamation in southern states. Hence, Juneteenth is celebrated on the day the Union troops arrived in Texas with the announcement and not the day the Emancipation Proclamation passed.

This celebratory and life-altering moment was originally declared “Jubilee Day,” or Freedom Day, by the newly freed people of Texas. In honor of this day, former slaves and their descendants traveled to Galveston annually, creating a new tradition that would later spread to other states. 

Another way “Jubilee Day” spread was through Black community leaders from Houston in 1872, who purchased land dedicated to “Jubilee Day” celebrations. This land became known as “Emancipation Park.” Also, during this time, after the ratification of the 15th amendment, many “Jubilee Day” celebrations began to include political rallies, which encouraged voter registration and participation in local political life. Later on, during the Great Migration, as African Americans were fleeing North, “Jubilee Day” celebrations began spreading to cities across the nation.

Now, “Jubilee Day” is celebrated across the U.S. as a federal holiday as of 2021 and is more commonly referred to as Juneteenth. 

Achievements:

It is important to recognize not only the many obstacles African Americans face but also their resilience and accomplishments. Below are just a few of the many achievements African Americans have made in the U.S. in the past, which have continued up till today and will continue forever after.

  • Henry Blair (1807-1860)

    • The second African American to be issued a United States patent. He patented two inventions: a corn planter and a cotton planter. Both of his inventions greatly increased efficiency on the farm by limiting labor and time.

  • James McCune Smith (1813-1865)

    • The first Black American to practice in the United States with a medical degree. He was also the first Black physician to establish and operate a pharmacy, and the first Black physician to publish articles in U.S. medical journals.

  • Bessie Coleman (1892-1926)

    • She was the first licensed Black pilot in the world, though she wasn’t recognized as a pioneer in aviation until after her death, and paved the way for a new generation of diverse fliers like the Tuskegee Airmen, Blackbirds, and Flying Hobos.

  • Jesse Owens (1913-1980)

    • Owens was a track-and-field athlete who set a world record in the long jump at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin—and went unrivaled for 25 years.

  • Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

    • She was the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize (in 1950, for Annie Allen), and she served as a poetry consultant to the Library of Congress, becoming the first Black woman to hold that position. 

  • Shirley Chisholm (1924-2005)

    • The first Black woman elected to Congress. She represented New York's 12th District from 1969 to 1983, and in 1972, she became the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. 

Status in America:

However, the U.S. still has a long way to go in regard to equal rights and treatment for the Black Community. Below are reports and statistics on the status of African Americans in America. 

Voting:

  • Strict voter ID laws disproportionately impact Black voters, according to county-level turnout data around the country.

  • Black voters consistently face longer wait times on Election Day, according to a report from 2022.

  • Around one-in-five Black eligible voters (22%) have a bachelor’s degree, lower than the share among all U.S. adults eligible to vote (33%) as of 2022.  Another 34% have at least some college education or an associate degree. The remaining 44% have a high school diploma or less.

Education

  • As of 2020, 88% of Black Americans have a High School diploma, and 26% a Bachelor’s Degree, according to the Census Bureau.

  • As of 2019, only 11.3% of Black women have earned a bachelor’s degree, according to Catalyst.

Health:

  • Black women are three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes as white women, according to The Century Foundation.

  •  49% of Black adults from a survey say a major reason why Black people generally have worse health outcomes is because healthcare providers are less likely to give Black people the most advanced medical care.

Housing:

  • While the U.S. homeownership rate increased to 65.5% in 2021, the rate among Black Americans lags significantly (44%), has only increased 0.4% in the last 10 years, and is nearly 29 percentage points less than White Americans (72.7%), representing the largest Black-White homeownership rate gap in a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors.

  • Among all racial groups, Black Americans are second most likely to experience poverty, with 21% living below the poverty threshold, according to National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Employment:

Juneteenth-2023 Activities:

  • Indy Juneteenth Fireworks show

    • Monday, June 19th

    • From 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Flanner House.

    • This event is free.

    • There will be a firework show, double dutch, food, games, a DJ, and more.

    • For more information, click here.

  • Juneteenth Black Heritage Concert and Art Show

    • Monday, June 19th 

    • From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Indiana Landmarks Center.

    • Tickets start at $20.

    • This concert and art show features Indianapolis-based musicians and improv comedians. There will also be an art exhibit by local artists.

    • For more information or to buy tickets, click here.

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