Growing up in the Mississippi River Valley of western Illinois, I went to a relatively diverse middle school and high school. But I never heard about Juneteenth until much later while pastoring the diverse church where I know serve in Milwaukee.

On January 1, 1863, as our nation moved toward the third year of the civil war, President Abraham Lincoln issued Presidential Proclamation 95, known as the Emancipation Proclamation, which included these words: “I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated [rebellious] States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free.” On the even of that day, both enslaved and free African Americans gathered for the first “watch night” services, awaiting news of this monumental proclamation of freedom.

While this proclamation was powerful, it was not immediately put into effect in all places. In fact, it was not until more than two years later, on June 19, 1865, that Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to announce the news in the westernmost territories that freedom had come. By executive order the more than 250,000 enslaved black people embraced freedom in what became known as “Juneteenth” or “Freedom Day.” While Juneteenth has long been celebrated in the African American community as our country’s second independence day, it remains unfamiliar to many Americans.

As Christians, we understand that what we celebrate matters. That is true in our faith, and it is also true as we consider celebrations in our culture. Juneteenth puts us in touch with various values that are important to us as Christians. Juneteenth echoes our belief that all people are made in the image of God and therefore deserve dignity. This celebration also recognizes that often things in our world do not reflect that value of others, which should lead us to appropriate grief and lament. Juneteenth also provides an opportunity to rejoice in the gift of freedom from enslavement, which is a theme in Scripture from the time of the Exodus and also in our faith spiritually.

The Apostle Paul wrote these powerful words to the church in Rome: “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). Juneteenth provides a powerful opportunity to do that which is consonant with our faith and meaningful in our surrounding culture.

Explore further resources:

• Read the Emancipation Proclamation at the National Archives
• Explore resources related to Juneteenth at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture
• Read Rasool Berry’s essay, “For Christians, Juneteenth is a Time of Jubilee”
• Read Jamar Tisby’s essay, “Before you celebrate Juneteenth, remember why we needed it in the first place”
• Watch “Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom” – A Documentary from Our Daily Bread Voices Collection