Juneteenth, Federal Holidays, And Writing History In Real Time
Jun 19, 2025
Discover the rich history of Juneteenth, marking the end of slavery in the U.S. Delve into its origins in Texas and the delays in communication surrounding emancipation. Learn how this regional celebration transformed into a national symbol of freedom during the Great Migration. The podcast explores the cultural significance of Juneteenth and its journey to federal recognition. Finally, reflect on how holidays influence collective memory and the ongoing debates surrounding their observance in contemporary society.
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Juneteenth Marks History in Progress
Juneteenth marks when slaves in Texas were freed, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
The holiday highlights how history is actively being written and contested in real time today.
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Emancipation Proclamation's Delayed Impact
The Emancipation Proclamation applied only to rebelling states and required enforcement to be effective.
News of emancipation traveled slowly and was often withheld from enslaved people, delaying their actual freedom.
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Texas as Juneteenth's Birthplace
Juneteenth started as a Texas celebration due to the unique social and geographical context.
Texas allowed more space for Black culture to thrive compared to harsher Reconstruction in other Southern states.
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In 'The Warmth of Other Suns', Isabel Wilkerson provides a detailed historical account of the Great Migration, a movement of approximately six million African Americans from the Southern United States to the Midwest, Northeast, and West between 1915 and 1970. The book follows the lives of three primary subjects: Ida Mae Gladney, George Starling, and Robert Foster, illustrating the broader historical context of the migration. Wilkerson examines the social, economic, and political factors that drove this migration, including economic opportunities in Northern industrial cities, escape from Jim Crow laws and racial violence in the South, and the impact of World War I and II on labor demands. The book is notable for its blend of historical analysis and narrative storytelling, making complex historical events accessible through the personal and societal perspectives of those who lived through the Great Migration.
It's June 19th. Today is Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the United States marking the end of slavery. We're bringing you an episode from 2020 on the history of the date and the holiday -- but before that some thoughts from Jody about how this very recent holiday reflects the way history is getting written before our eyes.
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Our team: Jacob Feldman, Researcher/Producer; Brittani Brown, Producer; Khawla Nakua, Transcripts; music by Teen Daze and Blue Dot Sessions; Audrey Mardavich is our Executive Producer at Radiotopia
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