Today In Black History: June 19th

June 19, 2025

On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas with federal troops to announce and enforce the freedom of all enslaved people in Texas, an event that became known as Juneteenth. The article also commemorates two significant figures born or who died on this date: Raymond Merriwether, a pioneering Black architect and engineer born in 1924 who made significant contributions to Seattle, and Solomon Tshekiso Plaatje, the first Secretary-General of the African National Congress who died in 1932. These three historical events spanning from 1865 to 1932 represent important milestones in Black history, liberation, and achievement across different countries and contexts.

Who is affected

Enslaved people in Texas who were informed of their freedom in 1865
Black residents of Texas and eventually all Americans as Juneteenth became a celebrated milestone
Seattle's Black community who benefited from Raymond Merriwether's architectural work and advocacy
Young Black entrepreneurs mentored by Merriwether
South Africans, particularly Black South Africans impacted by Plaatje's advocacy against the 1913 Land Act
Readers of Setswana who gained access to Shakespeare through Plaatje's translations

What action is being taken

Union General Gordon Granger is enforcing the end of slavery in Texas with 2,000 federal troops
Juneteenth is being celebrated as a milestone of Black liberation
Raymond Merriwether is designing housing and healthcare units in Seattle through his architectural work
Merriwether is mentoring young Black entrepreneurs
Merriwether is advocating for civil rights through his newspaper ownership

Why it matters

Juneteenth marked the effective end of slavery in the United States, coming two years after the Emancipation Proclamation
Merriwether broke barriers as one of Seattle's first Black engineers and created housing opportunities while advocating for civil rights
Plaatje's political activism against unjust land laws and his literary contributions represent significant achievements in South African history
These historical events document important milestones in Black liberation, professional advancement, and political advocacy across different countries

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint