All About Juneteenth and its Fort Worth Connection
What is the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday?
“On June 17, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. signed into law the bill that established Juneteenth National Independence Day, June 19, as a legal public holiday.
“Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the date Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and delivered General Order No. 3 announcing the end of legalized slavery in Texas.
“Historically, it has been a holiday celebrated by people of African descent in the United States, as well as people in Canada, Jamaica, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, and other countries throughout the world.
“Juneteenth is also a ‘symbolic date’ representing the African American struggle for freedom and equality, and a celebration of family and community,” according to the Library of Congress.
How is Juneteenth connected to Fort Worth? 
It all comes back to longtime Fort Worth resident Opal Lee, now known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth." For years, Opal led 2.5-mile walks in major cities, choosing the distance as a reminder that it took 2.5 years after the Emancipation Proclamation for the news to reach South Texas. Her efforts gained national attention in 2016, when at age 89, she began a 1,400-mile walk from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C., to petition for the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday. More than a million people signed the petition.
Opal Lee and Cook Children’s
We had the pleasure in 2021 to host a conversation with Opal Lee to discuss her children's book about Juneteenth, the significance of this observance, and what we can all do to bring about more change and understanding. She talked with Wini King, Senior Vice President, Chief of Communications, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, about her goal to educate young people about vital work they can do. Watch this three-minute video.
How is Juneteenth celebrated?
Juneteenth celebrations in the United States typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with food, music, and dancing, according to Brittanica.
Red foods and drinks, such as watermelon, red velvet cake, red soda, and hibiscus tea, are sometimes on the menu because the color is a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage, according to The New York Times.
Opal Lee has said she hopes Juneteenth becomes a day of service. She encourages people to do one kind act for someone and hopes that the holiday will encourage people to talk about what is needed to end racial disparities, according to Time.
Tell me more about the National Juneteenth Museum in Fort Worth.
The National Juneteenth Museum is under construction near Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth, in the historic Southside neighborhood on the corner of Rosedale Street and Evans Avenue.
The 50,000 square-foot cultural center “will be a knowledge hub, creating awareness and deepening the understanding of Juneteenth’s impact on the future of the African American community and the nation.
“It will be a curated experience center to educate guests on the legacy and experiences of the enslaved and provide factual narratives about people who overcame the trials and hardships of oppression,” according to the Museum.
Resources
Juneteenth celebrations in Fort Worth via Visit Fort Worth
Unity Unlimited’s Annual Juneteenth Fort Worth Celebration
Historical information from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
A 35-minute oral history of Opal Lee
A profile article of Opal Lee in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Renderings of the National Juneteenth Museum
Did you know?
There is a Miss Juneteenth America Scholarship Pageantry Program!
· The Miss Juneteenth America Scholarship Pageantry Program began in 1976, in Texas. Ot has since grown to include states of Tennessee, Florida, Nevada ,and Delaware.
· It is open to young ladies from 13 to 18.
· Miss Juneteenth pageants are not beauty pageants.
· The pageants are scholarship-driven, with events that center around community service, education and Black history.
· The pageants usually consist of essay writing, talent competition, evening wear, a question-and-answer section, and community service.
· The Miss Juneteenth title holder serves as an ambassador who brings attention to the cultural and historical significance of the holiday.
· Participants are engaged in several workshops and are challenged to utilize their leadership and speaking skills.
· Participants raise money for a charity of their choice. A significant portion of the funds raised are presented to them in the form of scholarships.
· Fort Worth-native Channing Godfrey Peoples, wrote and produced the movie Miss Juneteenth in 2020, which was nominated for several awards, including the Sundance Film Festival Award, the Hollywood Critics Association Award, and the Gotham Awards.