America’s First Juneteenth? The Untold Story of New Orleans Emancipation Celebrations

In a quiet corner of a museum at Mississippi State University, an intriguing tale unfolds about what could be America’s initial Juneteenth in New Orleans during the summer of 1864. It marks a lesser-known but crucial moment in history when the enslaved people in Louisiana celebrated their liberation months before the more widely recognized Juneteenth in 1865.

Newly freed individuals gathered for jubilant gatherings, festivities, and parades across New Orleans, showcasing a united front of resilience, community strength, and aspirations for citizenship following emancipation. These events served as a milestone in the fight for rights, equality, learning, and social progress.

The commemoration of Juneteenth, a term referring to June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were declared free by the U.S. Army, traces its roots back to the spirited gatherings in New Orleans led by Black community leaders such as Stephen Walter Rogers and Francois Boisdoré.

Key speakers at these events emphasized the significance of freedom, suffrage, work, and wages for African Americans, highlighting the importance of citizenship and economic empowerment. Their calls for equality and justice set the stage for a series of celebratory events that echoed across the nation, paving the way for the official recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021.

Notably, the story of emancipation celebrations in New Orleans sheds light on a pivotal moment in American history, underscoring the resilience and determination of the formerly enslaved individuals who sought to claim their rightful place in society. From Congo Square to the halls of St. James African Methodist Episcopal Church, these gatherings symbolized a new era of freedom and possibility for Black Americans in the post-Civil War era.