Historical Significance
It calls to the date of June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas to deliver an order announcing the end of legalized slavery in Texas. The significance in the date must refer back to January 1, 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation was delivered to legally free enslaved Americans. Over the course of the next two years, Texas slaveowners carried on as business as usual, continuing to practice slavery. The June 19, 1865 order allowed Freed Black men and women the opportunity to choose between staying with their former slave owners who will have to pay wages, go searching for family members that have been lost, and embark on a new journey called freedom.
Pasadena's Juneteenth Celebrations
Pasadena celebrates Juneteenth to honor the historic event, inspire a deeper understanding of African American history, and create solidarity and unity within the diverse community of Pasadena.