Juneteenth: Freedom Deferred, Freedom Celebrated

For generations, Juneteenth has been a day of celebration, reflection, and resilience in Black communities—marking June 19, 1865, when Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that enslaved people were free. What makes this moment so poignant is not just the declaration itself, but the painful truth behind it: freedom had technically come two and a half years earlier, when the Emancipation Proclamation took effect on Jan. 1, 1863. But in Texas, as in other parts of the South, the news—and the enforcement of freedom—was delayed, resisted, and actively suppressed.

That painful delay makes the annual observance of Juneteenth all the more meaningful. In Roanoke, the Cultural Collective, under the leadership of Jordan Bell, recently hosted its sixth annual Juneteenth “Family Reunion,” with more than 500 community members in attendance. Bell paid tribute to Opal Lee, the retired teacher, counselor, and activist who led the decades-long campaign to make Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday—an effort that succeeded in 2021, more than 150 years after freedom finally reached Texas.

Juneteenth is a stark reminder that liberty in America has often come in fits and starts—delayed, negotiated, and unevenly applied. Yet it is also a testament to the enduring spirit of those who claimed their freedom and built lives of purpose in its name.

When asked what the broader community should understand about Juneteenth, Freddie Johnson, a local youth advocate, emphasized the importance of celebrating the event because of its deep impact on the lived experience of freedom.


For older adults, particularly African Americans who have lived through segregation, the Civil Rights Movement, and ongoing struggles for equity, Juneteenth is both personal and political. It connects past to present, honoring ancestors who endured bondage while lighting a path for new generations. Elizabeth Harvey, a member of AARP Eureka Chapter #514, whose members well represented AARP at the event, said she didn’t learn about Juneteenth until adulthood—but is joyful to celebrate now.

Roanoke City Sheriff Antonio Hash noted that contemporary celebrations help preserve the cultural unity of the community.

“It brings people together and keeps the story alive,” he said.

Upcoming events which AARP Virginia sponsors in the Roanoke area include a celebration of Social Security’s 90^th Birthday will be held Thursday, Aug. 14, in collaboration with the Local Office on Aging. On Saturday, Aug. 23, Grandparent’s Day at the Virginia Museum of Transportation in Roanoke will be held offering the opportunity for intergenerational fun for the whole family. Grandparents will have free admission and there will be free ice cream for all while the supply lasts.


Similar and other events are being held all over the Commonwealth. For events near you, check out aarp.org/local.