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How have Black Texans worked for official recognition of Juneteenth as a day of celebration and commemoration?

Answer :

Final answer:

Black Texans have worked to recognize Juneteenth, which commemorates the end of slavery on June 19, 1865. It became a Texas holiday in 1980 and a national holiday in 2021. Celebrated since 1867, Juneteenth represents both historic freedom and the contemporary struggle for racial equality.

Explanation:

Black Texans have engaged in a long-standing movement to gain official recognition for Juneteenth, a day of celebration and commemoration for the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth traces its origins to June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas were informed of their emancipation, which ironically came two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The first celebrations started in 1867 under the auspices of the Freedman's Bureau and by 1872, Juneteenth became part of the Texas public calendar of events.

Over time, as Black Americans sought to overcome the continuous challenges of segregation and discrimination, Juneteenth served as a symbol of the freedom and rights that had been too long in coming. This holiday became an affirmation of culture and heritage, reinforcing the ongoing effort for racial justice and equality. The significance of Juneteenth was buoyed by the broader context of the African American experience in Texas.

After the Civil War, despite the Jim Crow laws and other forms of institutional racism, African Americans made significant political and social strides, including holding 35 elected offices in the Texas legislature during Reconstruction. As Civil Rights became a focal point in the mid-20th century, with landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Juneteenth took on the added meaning of victory over ongoing oppression.

In acknowledging the importance of this day, Texas made significant strides by declaring Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980. It wasn't until the passage of the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, that Juneteenth became a national federal holiday, cementing its place as a crucial fixture in American history and its collective calendar.

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