When Union soldiers rode into Galveston, Texas in June of 1865, they carried a critical message with them: A proclamation signed by President Abraham Lincoln nearly two years prior that decreed enslaved people in Confederate-held territories “are, and henceforward shall be free.”
While the long-awaited message didn’t end the practice of slavery in the United States outright — something that would officially come later that year with the ratification of the 13th Amendment, according to the National Archives — the 19th day of June became synonymous with liberation for millions of formerly enslaved people throughout the country.
Known also as Freedom Day, it was the first Juneteenth.
From early modest commemorations of liberation to nationwide celebrations, what started when news of emancipation reached Texas has grown throughout the generations. In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday.
Juneteenth lecture
At 7 p.m. on Monday, June 16, the N.C. History Center on the Civil War, Emancipation & Reconstruction will host its annual Juneteenth and Hari Jones Memorial Lecture at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church in Fayetteville.
This is N.C History Center’s seventh year commemorating Juneteenth, and the sixth year honoring the legacy of Hari Jones, a prominent historian who served as the assistant director and curator for the African American Civil War Freedom Foundation and Museum located in Washington, D.C.
Khadija McNair, a public historian and manager of the North Carolina Freedom Park in Raleigh, is slated to present a lecture titled “Echoes of Emancipation: Juneteenth and North Carolina” during the Monday night event.
In her lecture, McNair plans to give an overview of the history of Juneteenth, starting with the emancipation of enslaved people in Texas, and relating it to stories of liberation in North Carolina.
“I’ll be pulling out individual stories of people who were here during emancipation, and what that looked like for them,” McNair told CityView. She explained that stories of emancipation in our state are complex and nuanced. “People experienced different things when slavery ended in North Carolina.”
McNair said she thinks it’s important to continually celebrate and commemorate Juneteenth as a reminder of the challenges and resilience of those that came before. She explained that N.C. Freedom Park, located on Wilmington Street in downtown Raleigh, serves as an important site for reflection and remembrance.
“Coming back and thinking about history and how far we’ve come as a people,” McNair said. “People have come through a lot for us to be where we are.”
More opportunities to celebrate
Several Juneteenth celebrations and learning opportunities will be held throughout Cumberland County in the coming weeks. Here are some events to look forward to.
The 2025 Juneteenth Jubilee will be held from 3-9 p.m. Saturday, June 14 at Festival Park, 335 Ray Ave., Fayetteville.
The 6th Annual Juneteenth and Hari Jones Memorial Lecture will be held at 7 p.m., Monday, June 16 at Mount Sinai Missionary Baptist Church, 217 Murchison Road, Fayetteville.
Juneteenth and the Impact is an informational lecture presented by Fayetteville Technical Community College History Professor Jessie Kiker, and Hattie Presnell, historical properties coordinator for the Fayetteville History Museum. This lecture will be held at 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 17 at the West Regional Library, 7469 Century Circle, Fayetteville.
