Today is Juneteenth- a holiday that should be a federally reserved day to celebrate the unofficial end to slavery in America.

But what IS Juneteenth? Didn’t slavery end with the Emancipation Proclamation? Why are we celebrating it?

Let’s take it step by step.

Juneteenth is the yearly celebration of June 19th, 1865- the day that Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas to ensure that all slaves were freed per the order of the Emancipation Proclamation.

With the announcement, it is estimated that over 250,000 illegally enslaved Americans were freed.

But didn’t slavery end in 1863?

Technically, for Texas, the answer is yes. The slaves that were being held in Galveston legally were freed two years prior to Granger’s visit in 1865- hence the large celebration of their delayed freedom.

But the more specific answer is no. Despite what most history classes teach us, Abraham Lincoln did not free all slaves with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation- which went into effect January 1st, 1863.

The Emancipation Proclamation only freed slaves that were in Confederate “Rebel” states- which did not include the states bordering the Union lines such as Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware.

In fact, each of the four states mentioned above held over 500,000 slaves until state legislation changed or federal action was taken with the enactment of the Thirteenth Amendment in December 1865.

So if the slaves in Texas were freed before, and others weren’t freed until later, why are we celebrating Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a celebration of liberation. It is a celebration of freedom and change- two things that Black Americans are STILL fighting for. In the words of one of our favorite artists, Lizzo, is a day to “give back to Black,” a phrase that means investing your money, time, and energy into Black business.

And now to answer the final question you are probably asking yourself: why is a music blog writing about Juneteenth? Well, that’s easy.

As a website that is run by two white adults, it is our duty to educate ourselves, remain up-to-date on current events, and use our privilege and voice to amplify the voices of those who are less privileged. It’s our job to help educate our circles and to help support the change that is necessary to help everyone- not just white folx- achieve happiness, equity and equality.

We fully support the Black Lives Matter movement and are doing our part to educate ourselves and our friends/families to be better allies.

Do you want to Give Back to Black today? Check out some of our favorite Black owned businesses below, and be sure to check out our social media (Twitter, Instagram) where we will be sharing more posts about Juneteenth, Black owned businesses and more.

Online Shops We’ve Bought From:

Full Moon Botanica (handmade jewelry, candles, soaps, crystals, and more)

SouthernRoot (chemical free/natural skincare and hair care products)

America Hates US (politically and socially inspired clothing and accessories)

Nola Skin Essentials (Vegan skincare and beauty products)

Juvia’s Place (makeup and beauty products for all skin tones)

Armon Skincare (Vegan, female owned skincare for face & body)

UrbanxCollective (handmade facemasks)

Range Beauty (cruelty-free makeup for all skin tones and skin types)

Brands Our Favorite Brands Love:

Black Owned in Boston:

If your favorite Black Owned Business didn’t end up on this list, drop a comment below to let us know where we should shop next!