Juneteenth is just a few days away. To help learn more about the holiday, UNMC and Nebraska Medicine’s Juneteenth planning committee offers these facts.
Did you know?
- Juneteenth (June 19) is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, starting in 1866.
- Juneteenth commemorates slaves in Galveston, Texas, being freed following the end of the Civil War — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
- Emancipation Park in Houston, Texas, was bought specifically to celebrate Juneteenth. The 10-acre parcel of land was purchased by former slaves Richard Allen, Richard Brock, Jack Yates and Elias Dibble for $800 in 1872.
- Juneteenth today celebrates African American/Black freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.
In the spirit of exploring Juneteenth and its history, send your answers to the following quiz to Kelsey Scroggin no later than 3 p.m. on Thursday, June 16. You will be entered in a drawing for prizes donated by UNMC’s human resources, the UNMC College of Nursing and the office of inclusion.
Five people will be chosen at random from among those who answer all questions correctly. A grand prize will be awarded for the first person to respond with all the correct answers.
1. In what year did President Abraham Lincoln sign the Emancipation Proclamation?
2. What state first declared Juneteenth as a state holiday?
3. What year did Omaha first publicly celebrate Juneteenth?
4. Who designed the first version of the Juneteenth flag in 1997?
5. In what year did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?
Answers and winners will be announced in the upcoming UNMC Today article on Friday, June 17.