UPDATED: 9:00 a.m. June 19, 2020 —
Today marks 155 years since the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the state of Texas. June 19, 1865, is the true Independence Day for Black folks across the country and social media users are celebrating Juneteenth.
The observation takes on a new significance this year amid ongoing nationwide protests against racism and violence by law enforcement, two primary factors that taken together helped slavery thrive in America for so many centuries.
Juneteenth 2020 was taking place just weeks removed from the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who was handcuffed and facedown on the pavement when an officer used his knee to apply deadly pressure to the 46-year-old’s neck in broad daylight in Minneapolis on Memorial Day. It was also less than a week removed from a police officer shooting unarmed Black man Rayshard Brooks in the back in Atlanta. The officers accused in each killing have been charged with murder.
All of this was unfolding against the backdrop of the House and Senate each unveiling their own competing police reform bills as the president signed what critics called a hollow executive order on policing.
The result has been nearly four straight weeks of protests in all corners of the country and everywhere in between as America seemingly undergoes a racial awakening of sorts, at least on the surface.
Businesses, cities and states have all been making announcements they’re making Juneteenth a paid company holiday and the number if Juneteenth celebrations and observations seem to be off the charts compared to years past. That was especially true for white people.
Juneteenth’s observation also coincides with the 99th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre ofย 1921, when a mob of white men killed hundreds of Blacks and left thousands homeless. The few survivors of that riot alive today are still fighting for recognition and compensation.
Aside from a Juneteenth event being held in Tulsa and headlined in part by the Rev. Al Sharpton, there were dozens of rallies and marches planned in at least 46 states and Washington, D.C., taking place beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend. Organizers have said the participants will be promoting three demands, in particular: defunding the police, investing in Black communities and the resignation of Donald Trump.
Taking all of the above into account, social media users propelled several variations of Juneteenth hashtags to the top trending topics on Twitter, with people posting pro-Black memes, gifs and regular tweets declaring their pride and/or support for being Black in America.
Scroll down and check out some of the best social media reactions to Juneteenth.
1.
For #JUNETEENTH2020:
— Jon Paul, Ed.D.โ๐พ๐ณ๏ธโ๐ (@DoctorJonPaul) June 19, 2020
โขHire Black people
โขPay/send money to your Black friends
โขCommission Black freelancers
โขAsk how you can support your Black friends
โขHelp Black folks network
๐๐พโโ๏ธโ๐พโค๏ธ pic.twitter.com/RevT8WA8cH
2. Harlem U.S.A.
Source:falseThe 2018 #Juneteenth parade in Harlem. Juneteenth recognizes the day in June of 1865 when blacks in parts of the south received word that the Civil War was over and they were free from slavery. pic.twitter.com/8BYaiNvi1x
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) June 16, 2018
3. Gotta Love ‘Black-ish’
Source:false๐ต We built this ๐ต #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/fJYjUxIRYL
— black-ish (@blackishabc) June 19, 2018
4. Gotta Love ‘Black-ish’
Source:false๐ต We built this ๐ต #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/fJYjUxIRYL
— black-ish (@blackishabc) June 19, 2018
5. Never Forget…
Source:false6. Never Forget…
Source:false7. All About The Power
Source:false8. All About The Power
Source:false9. Put Your Fists Up
Source:falseHappy #Juneteenth... today we celebrate the end of US slavery pic.twitter.com/8TolW8AG8T
— ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐. (@blkgirlsrelate) June 19, 2018
10. Put Your Fists Up
Source:falseHappy #Juneteenth... today we celebrate the end of US slavery pic.twitter.com/8TolW8AG8T
— ๐ฝ๐๐ผ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐๐๐. (@blkgirlsrelate) June 19, 2018
11. Too Much… LOL
Source:falseHappy anniversary to Jill Stein's all-white #Juneteenth gathering. pic.twitter.com/MBFmYloqBq
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) June 19, 2018
12. Too Much… LOL
Source:falseHappy anniversary to Jill Stein's all-white #Juneteenth gathering. pic.twitter.com/MBFmYloqBq
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) June 19, 2018
13. Howard University
Source:falseHow fitting is it that the young scholars of the โHoward University Freedom Schoolโ wish everyone a Happy #Juneteenth!โ๐พ
— Howard University (@HowardU) June 19, 2018
Beginning June 19, 1865, today we celebrate the emancipation of those enslaved in America. pic.twitter.com/9uRS3Yd8u1
14. Howard University
Source:falseHow fitting is it that the young scholars of the โHoward University Freedom Schoolโ wish everyone a Happy #Juneteenth!โ๐พ
— Howard University (@HowardU) June 19, 2018
Beginning June 19, 1865, today we celebrate the emancipation of those enslaved in America. pic.twitter.com/9uRS3Yd8u1
15. Real Talk
Source:false153 years later and weโre still trying to get free in this country. #Juneteenth2018 #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/iGXjTyytS2
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) June 19, 2018
16. Real Talk
Source:false153 years later and weโre still trying to get free in this country. #Juneteenth2018 #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/iGXjTyytS2
— Jasmyne Cannick (@Jasmyne) June 19, 2018
17. So True…
Source:falseItโs #Juneteenth so African teams better win all day. pic.twitter.com/Hpd3XcKKNi
— Prop (@prophiphop) June 19, 2018
18. So True…
Source:falseItโs #Juneteenth so African teams better win all day. pic.twitter.com/Hpd3XcKKNi
— Prop (@prophiphop) June 19, 2018
19. So True…
Source:falseItโs #Juneteenth so African teams better win all day. pic.twitter.com/Hpd3XcKKNi
— Prop (@prophiphop) June 19, 2018
20. Celebration!
Source:false21. Celebration!
Source:false22. Celebration!
Source:false23. We Approve This Message…
Source:false#Juneteenth should be a national holiday. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/soOyt0rfDh
— Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng) June 19, 2018
24. We Approve This Message…
Source:false#Juneteenth should be a national holiday. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/soOyt0rfDh
— Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng) June 19, 2018
25. We Approve This Message…
Source:false#Juneteenth should be a national holiday. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/soOyt0rfDh
— Kaniela Ing (@KanielaIng) June 19, 2018
26. This Line From Issa Always Fits
Source:falsehappy #juneteenth.
— a n a. (@theanarice) June 19, 2018
i love us, forreal. pic.twitter.com/aROX7X0Los
27. This Line From Issa Always Fits
Source:falsehappy #juneteenth.
— a n a. (@theanarice) June 19, 2018
i love us, forreal. pic.twitter.com/aROX7X0Los
28. This Line From Issa Always Fits
Source:falsehappy #juneteenth.
— a n a. (@theanarice) June 19, 2018
i love us, forreal. pic.twitter.com/aROX7X0Los
29.
Source:false30. Super Fresh
Source:falseToday is National Observance Day for #Juneteenth โค๏ธ๐ค๐ pic.twitter.com/zKrSkjl4LP
— UNC Charlotte NPHC (@UNCCNPHC) June 19, 2018
31. Super Fresh
Source:falseToday is National Observance Day for #Juneteenth โค๏ธ๐ค๐ pic.twitter.com/zKrSkjl4LP
— UNC Charlotte NPHC (@UNCCNPHC) June 19, 2018
32. Pure Beauty…
Source:falseWe have come far but we still have a long way to go! #HappyJuneteenth #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/csOzEACPVZ
— Bria Perkins (@TheBriaPerkins) June 19, 2018
33.
Source:false34. Pure Beauty…
Source:falseWe have come far but we still have a long way to go! #HappyJuneteenth #Juneteenth pic.twitter.com/csOzEACPVZ
— Bria Perkins (@TheBriaPerkins) June 19, 2018
35. Always Here For Angela Davis
Source:falseOn this day in 1865 slaves in Texas weโre emancipated, this birthing our Independence Day. Happy #Juneteenth yโall. This is our Independence Day.โ๐พ pic.twitter.com/6B3mAgXnKq
— Aint Noboby Coming To See You Otis. (@jamiebadu) June 19, 2018
36. Always Here For Angela Davis
Source:falseOn this day in 1865 slaves in Texas weโre emancipated, this birthing our Independence Day. Happy #Juneteenth yโall. This is our Independence Day.โ๐พ pic.twitter.com/6B3mAgXnKq
— Aint Noboby Coming To See You Otis. (@jamiebadu) June 19, 2018
37. Always Here For Angela Davis
Source:falseOn this day in 1865 slaves in Texas weโre emancipated, this birthing our Independence Day. Happy #Juneteenth yโall. This is our Independence Day.โ๐พ pic.twitter.com/6B3mAgXnKq
— Aint Noboby Coming To See You Otis. (@jamiebadu) June 19, 2018
38. The Original Announcement
Source:falseToday in 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation is announced publicly in Galveston, freeing 250,000 enslaved Texans. #Juneteenthpic.twitter.com/JHWlcgD1Lj
— Houstorian (@Houstorian) June 19, 2018
39. The Original Announcement
Source:falseToday in 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation is announced publicly in Galveston, freeing 250,000 enslaved Texans. #Juneteenthpic.twitter.com/JHWlcgD1Lj
— Houstorian (@Houstorian) June 19, 2018
40.
Have a great day yall ๐ค#JUNETEENTH2020 pic.twitter.com/5tiW75ui5m
— unapologeticallyBLACK (@nyaisha7899) June 19, 2020