Celebrating Juneteenth: Past and Present

Written by the Black@ Affirm Employee Resource Group

On June 19th, 1865, General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas and announced General Order No. 3– this order ended slavery in Texas.

The following year, Black people in Galveston and across the state of Texas commemorated the event. So important that they eventually created their own word. “Juneteenth,”  is a portmanteau of the words  "June" and "nineteenth" and is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day in Texas. 

So what do we do to celebrate the holiday that is considered the longest-running African-American holiday?

Nothing? It’s a day off, right? The whole point is to commemorate and enjoy freedom.  

Historian Mitch Kachun considers that celebrations of the end of slavery should have three goals: "to celebrate, to educate, and to agitate." Celebrate, educate and agitate? We can’t achieve any of these things by doing “nothing.”

Our ancestors found unique ways to celebrate Juneteenth. Here’s some of the original ways people celebrated: 

Fishing: Fishing and seafood were key parts of daily life in Western African cultures, and that transferred over to enslaved life in America as well. After being stripped of everything, including nutrition, this was a way to hold on to their culture and have something to eat they enjoyed.

The work schedule on the plantation would slow down by noon on Saturday, so enslaved people had the rest of that day to do what they wanted. Oftentimes, they would go fishing at a river that was close by and brought their catch to prepare their own meal. The fish would be fried outside over a fire, and would bring people together. This act more than likely was a chance for them to relax and create a sense of community. In the years after Emancipation, during the Great Migration, Black people spread this tradition across the country and began opening fried fish shacks and restaurants.

Baseball: Starting in the early 1870s, baseball was almost certain to be a centerpiece at every Juneteenth celebration. In a south that increasingly tried to limit Black freedom, baseball became a symbol of mobility and autonomy in the Jim Crow south. 

Growing in national popularity and social significance after the Civil War, baseball presented Black people with an opportunity to prove their toughness, skills, and merit for first-class citizenship. Playing on the same field as the majority would assume equality and being the best could prove excellence. 

Rodeos: Throughout the plantation era, enslaved Black people commonly worked as stable hands, horse trainers, jockeys, and groomers. Horses were used as colonial symbols of wealth and power, as well as for entertainment. To maintain their horses, colonists relied on generations of Black labor and equine knowledge.

After emancipation, former slaves found work as cowhands, building the horse and ranch culture that became synonymous with the American West. Black cowboys were women, sharpshooters who opened taverns and drove stagecoaches over the mountains. And Black cowboys were visionaries using their knowledge to build self-determined Black towns.

The residents of an all-Black town founded by former slaves, Boley, Oklahoma organized an annual rodeo in 1905 that is still in operation today. In its early days, the Boley Rodeo showcased the riders skills while also serving as an example of a place created by the dreams of Black freedom. 

Celebrating today

Today, Juneteenth continues to find new traditions as more Americans begin to celebrate it. Juneteenth celebrations, which range from parades to cookouts, festivals, prayer and church services have become more popular since then, especially after it was made a federal holiday in 2021 . 

Affirmers were granted this day off officially in the beginning of June 2020. Affirm CEO, Max Levchin, confirmed that the company would celebrate this holiday annually one year before the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law. 

When asked how they planned to celebrate Juneteenth, these members of BLACK@Affirm shared these as their plans: 

After learning more about past Juneteenth traditions, I decided that my son and I should take in a Pittsburgh Pirates game on June 19th. We’ll be in attendance when the Pirates host the Cincinnati Reds for a midday, PNC Park Freedom Day baseball game. By celebrating Juneteenth as our ancestors did, we will honor the struggles and achievements of them and recognize the importance of a diverse and equitable playing field. - April Chism, BLACK@Co lead 

For me, Juneteenth is not just a single day of remembrance, but a tribute to generations of resilience and perseverance. On this day, I take a moment to honor the legacy of those who came before me. I reflect on their experiences and the transformative changes they brought about, which have paved the way for my own growth and success. In the spirit of unity and celebration, I spend quality time with my family, preparing and enjoying our favorite meals. This act of coming together over food serves as a reminder of the love and light that our ancestors have passed down to us. In essence, my Juneteenth celebration is a blend of reflection, gratitude, and familial bonding. It is a time to acknowledge the past, appreciate the present, and look forward to a future of continued progress. - Tata Blank, Customer Advocacy Specialist I

I am going to a Juneteenth celebration on Sunday. One of my best friends has an annual Juneteenth celebration where a few of us gather, bring food, and fellowship. This is her 8th one so it’s pretty epic at this point. It was between this and the Juneteenth celebration that’s hosted in uptown Charlotte which I go to every year. Lakeena Alexander- Compensation Manager