Every year on June 19, the United States observes Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people in Texas were free. The announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, and was delivered through Major General Gordon Granger’s reading of General Order No. 3.
The History of Juneteenth
For generations, Juneteenth has been commemorated through celebration, remembrance, and learning. Often referred to as America’s second Independence Day, it highlights the uneven and delayed process by which emancipation became known and enforced across the United States. The message brought to Texas in 1865 represented one of the most significant milestones in the long process of emancipation.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. In Maine, Governor Janet Mills signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a paid state holiday in 2021, with the first official state observance taking place in June 2022.
The Maine Connection
Maine is not often the first place people associate with slavery, yet its economy was connected to trade networks that depended on enslaved labor. Maine‑built ships carried captives and goods produced through the labor of enslaved people across the Atlantic and along the U.S. coast, linking Africa, Cuba, the West Indies, the American South, and New England. Maine salted fish and produce helped feed enslaved people, while Maine lumber was used for Caribbean construction and as fuel in sugar processing.
Maine traders imported slave-grown cotton, helping make the state a northern leader in cotton fabric production in the early 1800s and fueling the growth of mill towns like Lewiston and Biddeford. By 1860, Portland was a major hub for importing sugar, molasses, and rum, processing about one-fifth of all molasses entering the United States and supporting several rum distilleries along its waterfront.
Our Shared History
This history provides important context for Juneteenth and for a fuller understanding of Maine’s place within the broader history of the United States. At UMA, we value the role of education in helping people examine history with accuracy, care, and attention to complexity.
Juneteenth offers an opportunity to learn more about this history, attend local observances, and consider the ways freedom has been understood, pursued, and protected across American history. Through continued learning and shared understanding, UMA affirms the importance of education in strengthening communities and supporting the dignity and rights of all people.
Check out local events commemorating Juneteenth on UMA’s Heritage Month Calendar as well as learning resources concerning the significance of Juneteenth in Maine and beyond. You can keep up with more content like this by subscribing to the calendar and submitting events and resources to help promote inclusion and belonging in our community.