HOUSTON, US

Juneteenth marks a significant day in US history when a quarter of a million enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned on June 19, 1865 that they had been freed, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation abolishing slavery in the country and two months after the Civil War had ended.

On Wednesday, as Americans celebrate Juneteenth, which President Joe Biden signed into law just three years ago, making it a federal holiday, a new survey by the marketing research firm YouGov showed that 90% of Americans are now aware of the holiday compared to just 74% in 2022.

"Juneteenth is significant in the struggle for African American freedom," Portia Hopkins told Anadolu.

Hopkins is the university historian at Rice University in Houston, Texas with expertise in African American Studies.

"I think before 2022, it was largely treated as a Texas holiday, and celebrations were hyperlocal," she continued. "As knowledge grew about the holiday, we started to see more people recognize and choose to celebrate Juneteenth as a significant moment in African American history."

The YouGov survey revealed that 77% of respondents knew at least a little about Juneteenth, with 68% correctly identifying why the holiday is celebrated. Only 17% said they knew a lot about the holiday.

Black Americans (32%) were more likely to say they knew a lot about the Juneteenth holiday versus Hispanics (22%) and whites (13%).

"Juneteenth symbolizes freedom and the fulfillment of emancipation promises, honoring African Americans' resilience against slavery," said Hopkins. "It is the moment of freedom that formerly enslaved people in Texas can point to as the start of a new era of freedom."

Juneteenth was created by putting the word June and nineteenth together to commemorate the day in which the 250,000 slaves in Galveston were given the declaration by Union Army General Gordon Granger that they were officially free. The date has been celebrated by the Black community for more than 150 years as America's second Independence Day. It was first recognized as a state holiday in Texas in 1980 and in 2021 was enacted as a federal holiday.

"Though originating in Texas, Juneteenth National Independence Day has grown into a nationwide cultural holiday, gaining federal recognition in 2021 as a day of reflection on African American heritage, civil rights, and ongoing struggles for equality amid discussions about racial justice and historical injustices in America," said Hopkins.

"This was the first national holiday added to the federal calendar since MLK's birthday in 1983!" she added, referring to civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

But neither the abolition of slavery nor the enactment of Juneteenth as a federal holiday have ended racism in the US. In fact, the recognition of Juneteenth comes at a tipping point in America where racial strife has become a powder keg in politics between Republicans and Democrats.

President Biden addressed those concerns amid the Juneteenth celebrations at the White House, warning of "old ghosts in new garments trying to take us back," referring to Republicans making it harder for Black people to vote and attacking diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

"I don't think we can talk about the elevation of Juneteenth to a national holiday without also recognizing that the social and political climate during 2020-2021 required the nation as a whole to grapple with the inconsistencies of the promise of freedom for African Americans," said Hopkins. "In that moment, we say millions of people discover -- and rediscover -- this AMERICAN history."

Over the past several years, cultural debate has raged in America over the history of slavery and how it should be taught in schools. In addition, the teaching of critical race theory – which states that racial bias is inherent in many parts of Western society, especially in its legal and social institutions, on the basis of their having been primarily designed for and implemented by white people -- has been banned in many teaching institutions from high school to college.

"One thing we must recognize about Juneteenth is that it serves multiple purposes for people," Hopkins explained. "It allows a space for African American communities to create cultural traditions to honor their ancestors who suffered under the lash during enslavement. It is also a uniquely American celebration that commemorates the moment freedmen turned towards a hopeful future and the promise of freedom."

The high-profile deaths of Black people at the hands of police have also contributed to racial sparring in the United States. The murder of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by white police officer Derek Chauvin in the state of Minnesota in 2020 after Chauvin kneeled on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes until he died, has also made America more aware of racism and police brutality against Blacks.

The celebration of Juneteenth might be the remedy to soothe racial tensions that have re-escalated in the US, or at least bring a better understanding of the difficult plight that Black people in America have faced throughout history.

Hopkins implores that Juneteenth should be embraced by everyone in the United States.

"In the contemporary moment, it provides an opportunity for all Americans to learn more about our history and build community," she said.

"Juneteenth honors a once-enslaved people's resilience and highlights America's ongoing journey toward equality and justice."