Etta LaFlora and Lovondi Jordan joined Ken Peel to discuss the significance of the Juneteenth holiday.

Juneteenth takes center stage this week on Wake Up Tri-Counties, as Ken Peel welcomed Etta LaFlora and Lovondi Jordan to discuss the holiday’s history and meaning. Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing freedom for enslaved people—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The guests emphasized that Juneteenth is more than a day off; it is a time to remember, reflect, and teach younger generations about freedom, resilience, faith, and hope. They also highlighted Dr. Opal Lee’s efforts to make Juneteenth a national holiday, signed into law in 2021.

Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history — the day freedom finally reached enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, on June 19th, 1865. That announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The first celebrations began in Texas the following year, with prayer, music, family gatherings, and community events. Texas officially recognized Juneteenth in 1980, and in 2021 it became a federal holiday. Today, Juneteenth is both a celebration of African American freedom, culture, and achievement—and a reminder of the continuing pursuit of equality and justice across the nation.