Juneteenth History

Thank you for joining NAACP San Luis Obispo County Branch for our Juneteenth Celebration. We’re so glad you’re here! The 2024 theme is:

Art and Culture - A Glimpse of the Past and Present.

We are continuing the long history of Juneteenth celebrations dating back to June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver a formal announcement memorialized as General Order 3, to ensure all enslaved people were freed—even though the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect two and a half years earlier. Once federal troops arrived to take control of the state and uphold the end of slavery (which had largely continued in Texas until that time), newly freed slaves took to the streets to celebrate. Since that first date, the annual tradition of Juneteenth has continued, and it has become a recognized state holiday in most states.

In years like 2024, when the lingering remnants of racial injustice are actively being challenged, it’s important to look at the long history of fighting discrimination. Juneteenth is a day to memorialize the long history of struggles, celebrate the successes that have been achieved so far, and look forward to a day when justice is reached. Education and hope for a brighter future have always been central to Juneteenth celebrations. See the “Freedom Lounge” where NAACP SLO County has collected stories and inspiration to support compassion, justice and diversity here in our own community.

A Big Thank You to last year’s Sponsors: