logo
ENع
Why Juneteenth matters to all of us

Why Juneteenth matters to all of us

Travel Weekly14-06-2025

In the 2025 Telly Award-winning episode of "Traveling With Denella," I took a deeply personal journey to Galveston, Texas -- the birthplace of Juneteenth.
Denella Ri'chard has been the host of the TV show "Traveling With Denella" since 2020. She is a former executive of Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Hilton and is also a con-sultant and industry speaker.
There, I sat down with renowned local historian Sam Collins, whose insight and passion brought new depth to a story I thought I already understood. But what I learned transformed how I view not only this holiday but American history itself.
The Juneteenth backstory
On June 19, 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, Union Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston with a message that would forever change the course of American history. He read General Order No. 3, announcing that "all slaves are free." For the more than 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas, this was the first official word of their freedom.
Why did it take so long? As Collins explained it, Texas -- geographically remote and politically resistant -- became a final refuge for slavery as the Confederacy crumbled. Some enslavers intentionally withheld the news. Others fled to Texas specifically to avoid emancipation. Juneteenth marks the delayed but determined dawn of freedom for the last enslaved people in the U.S.
Reasons we celebrate
Juneteenth isn't just a Black story. It's an American story: a narrative of hope, resilience and triumph against unimaginable odds. It's the story of a nation struggling to live up to its founding ideals, that all are created equal.
To celebrate Juneteenth is to acknowledge our shared history honestly, to reflect on how far we've come and to recommit ourselves to justice and equality for all.
And yet, Juneteenth is not just about the past. It's a reminder that freedom and equality are not static achievements; they are ongoing pursuits. Juneteenth calls us to action. It's a day that invites education, service, conversation and unity.
Related forum: Tracing Juneteenth's roots and meaning
Across the country, communities are now using this day to host cultural festivals, educational workshops and commemorative ceremonies that foster progress and community fellowship. It's an opportunity for all Americans to take part in building a better, more inclusive future.
This is why it's so meaningful that Juneteenth became a federal holiday. President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, after decades of advocacy from community leaders, historians and everyday Americans who understood the importance of remembrance and recognition.
It was a moment of national acknowledgment -- long overdue but deeply powerful.
A personal reflection
Walking through Galveston's historical districts, I felt the weight of history and the spirit of those who waited for freedom to reach them. I thought about the strength it took not just to survive slavery but to build lives, communities and futures in its aftermath.
During the episode, Sam showed me Galveston's Freedom Walk, which included the Middle Passage marker, which commemorates enslaved people in Galveston; Reedy Chapel, where General Order No. 3 was read; and a Juneteenth mural that Sam said "helped expand the narrative" by, among other things, including images of Black Union troops.
This episode of "Traveling With Denella" wasn't just about documenting a destination. It was about uncovering truths, elevating voices and honoring the past in a way that empowers the present.
For me, celebrating Juneteenth is not optional -- it's essential.
A call to celebrate
Juneteenth teaches us that freedom delayed is still freedom worth fighting for. It invites every American to join in reflection and celebration, not just of emancipation but of the enduring belief that justice will prevail.
As we mark Juneteenth each year, let's move beyond barbecues and picnics. Let's tell the stories. Let's teach the history. Let's recognize that this moment in time belongs to all of us.
Because Juneteenth is not just Black history.
It's American history.
The "Juneteenth" special episode airs in 50-plus cities through June, including NBC affiliates in New York, Chicago, Dallas and Seattle. Check local listings or stream at gfntv.com.
_____________________________________
Travel Weekly accepts opinion pieces on subjects of interest to the travel industry and, most importantly, to travel advisors. Forums should be 550 words and must be exclusive to Travel Weekly; no part of the writing can have been published anywhere else. Forums must not be self-promotional and should be submitted with the understanding that Travel Weekly reserves the right to edit the content for length, style, spelling, clarity, structure, etc. Submissions, along with a high-resolution headshot and a short bio, should be emailed to editor in chief Arnie Weissmann and deputy managing editor Gerry Bourbeau.

Hashtags

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump's Admin Is Policing Foreign Students' Social Media for ‘Political Activism'
Trump's Admin Is Policing Foreign Students' Social Media for ‘Political Activism'

Yahoo

time38 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Trump's Admin Is Policing Foreign Students' Social Media for ‘Political Activism'

Donald Trump's State Department ended a three-week pause on student visa processing, but people applying for those visas now could be rejected if they do not make their social media profiles public. Immigration officials are vetting students for their political stances, particularly any pro-Palestine activism. 'A U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right,' the State Department said in a statement on Saturday. The State Department said it is screening applicants for those who 'pose a threat to U.S. national security.' A cable was circulated about the news on Wednesday, the Free Press reported. 'Under new guidance, we will conduct a comprehensive and thorough vetting, including online presence, of all student and exchange visitor applicants in the F, M, and J nonimmigrant classifications,' the State Department said in its Saturday statement. 'To facilitate this vetting, all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public.'' All three visas are related to studying in the U.S. Wednesday's cable, sent by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasized that the agency would be scanning for political activists. 'Applicants who demonstrate a history of political activism,' he wrote, 'especially when it is associated with violence… you must consider the likelihood they would continue such activity in the United States.' 'During an online presence search, you might discover on social media that an applicant endorsed Hamas or its activities,' Rubio wrote, which could be grounds for rejection. Rubio also said that private social media posts could be interpreted as an effort to 'hide certain activity.' In March, Rubio said that he had canceled more than 300 visas over pro-Palestine activism. Colleges and universities have been a point of focus for the Trump administration as it seeks to crack down on immigrants and protests. On Friday, Columbia University pro-Palestine student activist Mahmoud Khalil was released from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center after spending three months there, missing the birth of his child. To justify revoking Khalil's visa and seeking his deportation, Rubio declared that his continued presence in America 'would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.' Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk was detained by ICE for six weeks. She alleges that the detention was due to a pro-Palestine op-ed she wrote. Also on Friday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from preventing Harvard from admitting international students. Universities have warned international students to avoid traveling abroad over the summer in case they have their visas revoked or are not allowed back into the U.S. for another reason. 'The enhanced social media vetting will ensure we are properly screening every single person attempting to visit our country,' a senior State Department official told The Wall Street Journal. 'Every visa adjudication is a national security decision,' the State Department said. 'The United States must be vigilant during the visa issuance process to ensure that those applying for admission into the United States do not intend to harm Americans and our national interests, and that all applicants credibly establish their eligibility for the visa sought, including that they intend to engage in activities consistent with the terms for their admission.' Yale's Office of International Students and Scholars instructed students to follow the guidance and assess their digital footprints and speak with an attorney if they have concerns. 'You should evaluate your risk regarding your social media presence and digital footprint to determine what, if any, action you should take before applying for a visa,' said Ozan Say, the office's director, The Yale Daily News reported. More from Rolling Stone Nuclear Fears Become a Call for Regime Change in Iran Judge Orders Trump to Release Mahmoud Khalil Treasured Public Lands on the Auction Block in Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' Best of Rolling Stone The Useful Idiots New Guide to the Most Stoned Moments of the 2020 Presidential Campaign Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal The Radical Crusade of Mike Pence

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store