VIDEO: The True Purpose Of Juneteenth

COLUMBUS, Miss.(WCBI)—Juneteenth is the oldest nationally known commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Several celebrations take place throughout the month of June in honor of the day.

“In various locations freedom came with the arrival of Union soldiers,”said Mississippi School of Mathematics history teacher Charles Yarborough.

In 1865 Union Soldiers traveled through the country delivering the news that slavery was officially illegal.

“June 19th in 1865 Union Troops arrived in Galveston and the commander General Granger issued a general order saying slaves in Texas are freed and should be considered with all civil and equal rights to their former slave holders,”said Yarborough.

Yarborough more than 40 states recognize Juneteenth. However, the day of celebration is different.

“The history of Juneteenth sometimes gets lost in all the celebrations that go on but we always have to remember that it’s a party with a purpose,”said Yarborough.

State Representative Kabir Karriem says there may be different days but the message is the same.

“I really don’t think there is a difference because the message is clear. Even though it was months earlier, that the emancipation was signed, this is when the news traveled through Texas,” said Karriem.

For the City of Columbus and the Lowndes County Area the news came almost a month earlier.

“So, here in Columbus and the surrounding area the 8th of May 1865 is when Union Troops Arrived. So for well over a century the 8th of May was celebrated as the local emancipation day,” said Yarborough.

MSMS students host a program from the historic Sandfield Cemetery in honor the original emancipation of slavery for the area.

In that program we celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of people who were alive when freedom came in 1865 and sot to make a way out of no way in this community,”said Yarborough.

Kareem says the emancipation of Slavery is something to celebrate but black history should be celebrated everyday.

“I just think people should celebrate black history and we need to do everything we possibly can to instill in our children the rich history of our culture because there is a rich history there some is not glamorized as others but it is a since of history and if you’re going to know where you’re going you’ve got to know where you’ve been,”said Yarborough.

Columbus’ own Juneteenth Festival runs through the weekend.