Juneteenth is a federal holiday that celebrates and commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people. While the Emancipation Proclamation was issued in 1863 by Abraham Lincoln, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 beginnings of liberation in Texas and other states took root when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce the end of the Civil War and ensure that all African American slaves be freed.  

Soon after emancipation was proclaimed, empowered African Americans in Houston began building their own community, known as “Freedmen’s Town,” a thriving area found in the historic Fourth Ward today. The site became a destination for recently freed slaves from various plantations including the Brazos River Plantation. The community settled on Buffalo Bayou’s southern edge where they quickly blossomed and established many monumental sites including the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Today you can still find historical sites alongside Freedmen’s Town including Rutherford B.H. Yates Museum, Bethel Park, the African American Library at the Gregory School, and more.

Concurrently, in 1872, former slaves and Houston residents Reverend Jack Yates, Richard Allen, Richard Brock, and Reverend Elias Dibble raised $1,000 to purchase 10 acres of land to host and commemorate the anniversary of their emancipation (Juneteenth). The land now known as Emancipation Park continues to preserve the integrity and historical roots of the park and is a pillar for Juneteenth celebrations. To learn more about African American history, visit Houston Public Library or click here.