Four things you should know about Juneteenth Day in Milwaukee | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
Ana Martinez-Ortiz & Bridget Fogarty
June 19, 2020
(Photo provided by Juneteenth Day – Milwaukee)
Today is Juneteenth Day, a day of celebration and remembrance.
The tradition began upon the end of the Civil War and has carried on through the generations.
Here are some things you should know:
What is Juneteenth Day?
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Juneteenth Day celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the Civil War had ended and with it, the enslavement of black people, according to Juneteenth Day Milwaukee, Milwaukee’s official Juneteenth Day website. This was two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Upon hearing the news, people broke out into celebration. Eventually, that day became known as Juneteenth Day.
What is the history of Juneteenth in Milwaukee?
In 1971, Milwaukee celebrated its first Juneteenth Day. Since then, Milwaukee has hosted one of the largest Juneteenth events in the nation.
What is the significance of Juneteenth Day?
While Juneteenth Day is a day of celebration, it also focuses on heritage and ancestry.
The day is dedicated to reflecting on the past and progressing toward a brighter future.
What’s happening today?
Read Princess Safiya Byers’ article to find out how and where you can celebrate.