Don't know where I saw it, or why I would have imagined it, but, for DECADES, the words "Juneteenth Day" brought to mind the image of a girl, ten or 12 years old, shabbily dressed, running barefoot down the road to tell her family and neighbors that they were free.
TODAY, on the "In this day in history", I found out that the news wasn't carried by a child, but by two thousand U.S. Army troopers arriving in Galveston, Texas, to announce the news.
With my limited knowledge ..... 
for Juneteenth.
i had never heard of it until about 4 or 5 years ago...live and learn
It's always been a well-attended event and/or events here. There are parades, dances, arts and crafts, etc. I don't remember when it started, but several years ago.
There was a very small paragraph describing and a photo of folks celebrating “Juneteenth” in the history books in school, back in Texas when I was in elementary school, late 1980’s/early 90’s. And I knew that my black friends would go off and bbq with their friends and families for it. That was about it. I think because it was an event that took place in Texas…that was about the only place some folks celebrated.
Unless I am mistaken.
Was anybody else out there celebrating “Juneteenth” in the 1980’s….outside of Texas?
Guess not…
.... or they're just ignoring you. 
quote:
Originally posted by Texican65There was a very small paragraph describing and a photo of folks celebrating “Juneteenth” in the history books in school, back in Texas when I was in elementary school, late 1980’s/early 90’s. And I knew that my black friends would go off and bbq with their friends and families for it. That was about it. I think because it was an event that took place in Texas…that was about the only place some folks celebrated.
Unless I am mistaken.
Was anybody else out there celebrating “Juneteenth” in the 1980’s….outside of Texas?
I grew up in lily white Iowa in the 50s, 60s. I think there was only one black man living within a 50 mile radius of me. The first black person I ever met and knew was when I went into the Navy, and there wasn't much celebrating in the Navy, except when we went over the equator. And even when I came back, in the 80s and 90s, there still was not a significant black population. Let's face it, there isn't a whole lot to attrack people to Iowa. So I don't think that I was in a position where I would be aware of any Juneteenth celebration until the advent of the internet and I became aware that there was a Junteenth.
quote:
Originally posted by BG Banjoquote:
Originally posted by Texican65There was a very small paragraph describing and a photo of folks celebrating “Juneteenth” in the history books in school, back in Texas when I was in elementary school, late 1980’s/early 90’s. And I knew that my black friends would go off and bbq with their friends and families for it. That was about it. I think because it was an event that took place in Texas…that was about the only place some folks celebrated.
Unless I am mistaken.
Was anybody else out there celebrating “Juneteenth” in the 1980’s….outside of Texas?I grew up in lily white Iowa in the 50s, 60s. I think there was only one black man living within a 50 mile radius of me. The first black person I ever met and knew was when I went into the Navy, and there wasn't much celebrating in the Navy, except when we went over the equator. And even when I came back, in the 80s and 90s, there still was not a significant black population. Let's face it, there isn't a whole lot to attrack people to Iowa. So I don't think that I was in a position where I would be aware of any Juneteenth celebration until the advent of the internet and I became aware that there was a Junteenth.
hey i live in north carolina and i went over 60 years and never heard of it till recently. now that i know what it is ,, i can't figure out why it hasn't been a larger part of the publics awareness. i mean this is a day of jubilee !!! like when moses led his people out of bondage....
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 06/23/2026 13:18:45
My suspicion is that it's some combination of it being proclaimed a federal/national/?? holiday in 2021 AND mainstream media giving us "... everything you need to know." [cough, cough]
Edited by - Owen on 06/23/2026 14:31:27
the conglomerate hospital my wife works for last year took away Good Friday and now officially observe MLK b-day.... its still a paid day off. but to their credit they are 28% black employees.
Edited by - 1935tb-11 on 06/24/2026 08:14:11
quote:
Originally posted by 1935tb-11the conglomerate hospital my wife works for last year took away Good Friday and now officially observe MLK b-day.... its still a paid day off. but to their credit they are 28% black employees.
My career job, for the first twenty years, was one of those where a shift was on duty 24/7. I didn't work in a hospital, but I worked closely with the Paramedics and their work schedule was pretty close to the same. We worked 272 days a year. Over the year that amounted to two days off a week and 12 holidays. I worked 5 on, 2 off, 6 on, 3 off, and either a day extra or another day off to balance it all out. As convoluted as it sounds, it wasn't that difficult to figure out. They sent us a calendar for the year. Anyway, to the point, the actual holiday came and went. You either had it off, or you didn't. You could call it anything you wanted, it didn't change anything.
I share a birthday with the late great Lester Flatt ,amongst others on June 19th
Our family often celebrated in conjuction with Father s Day
It was only a few yrs ago that
I heard about Juneteenth as a holiday.
E
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