Juneteenth: 4 interesting facts about the celebration marking end of slavery

Struggle in Support

While Juneteenth is generally considered the longest-running celebration for an African American centered holiday, having first been observed in 1866, there have been times when it struggled to gain support.

“Economic and cultural forces led to a decline in Juneteenth activities and participants beginning in the early 1900s,” noted Juneteenth.com.

“The Depression forced many people off the farms and into the cities to find work. In these urban environments, employers were less eager to grant leaves to celebrate this date. Thus, unless June 19th fell on a weekend or holiday, there were very few participants available.”

Interest and involvement in the holiday bounced back in popularity during the latter half of the 20th century, thanks to the 1960s civil rights movement and Texas making it a state holiday in 1980.