Juneteenth, a term blending “June” and “nineteenth,” represents a significant chapter in American history. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, this annual celebration is observed by African Americans to commemorate the end of slavery in the US.
The origins of Juneteenth date back to June 19, 1865. When the US’ northern army arrived in Texas, its general, Gordon Granger, announced the freedom of all its slaves. Although then US president Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had officially freed slaves in the southern states as early as 1863, slow communication and resistance in some regions postponed their actual liberation. It wasn’t until the northern troops arrived in Texas, the most remote of the slave states, that the proclamation was fully enforced in the states that fought against the US government.
However, abolishing slavery didn’t immediately lead to equal treatment for African Americans. Initially, Juneteenth was not an official holiday and was celebrated in small, community-focused ways. It was only in 1980 that Texas officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday.
Photo: Freepik / 照片：Freepik
Even in recent years, incidents of racial discrimination in the US continue to surface. With the emergence of contemporary movements like Black Lives Matter, Juneteenth has gained national attention. In 2021, the US government officially passed a bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday. Though it took over 150 years, this landmark decision represents a commitment to acknowledge the country’s troubled past and ensure human rights for all. Juneteenth is a powerful reminder of the continuous work needed to promote justice and equality.
六月節，一個將「六月」和「十九日」結合的詞彙，代表了美國歷史上一個重要的篇章。這個每年一度的慶祝活動也被稱為自由日或解放日，由非裔美國人慶祝以紀念美國奴隸制度的終結。
六月節的起源可以追溯到西元1865年的6月19日。當美國北方軍隊抵達德州時，其將軍戈登·格蘭傑宣布所有奴隸獲得自由。儘管亞伯拉罕·林肯總統的解放宣言早在西元1863年就已正式解放了南方各州的奴隸，但由於通訊緩慢和一些地區的抵抗，奴隸的實際解放被推遲。直到北方軍隊抵達德州，這個奴隸制度中最偏遠的州，解放宣言才在那些反抗美國政府的州中得以完全實施。
然而，廢除奴隸制度並沒有立即為非裔美國人帶來平等待遇。最初，六月節並非官方假日，而是以小型、社區為中心的方式慶祝。直到西元1980年，德州才正式承認六月節為州定假日。
即使在最近幾年，美國仍不斷出現種族歧視事件。隨著像「黑人的命也是命」這樣的當代運動的興起，六月節獲得了全國的關注。西元2021年，美國政府正式通過了一項法案，將六月節定為聯邦假日。儘管歷時150多年，這項具有里程碑意義的決定代表著承認該國動盪過去並確保所有人人權的承諾。六月節是一個強而有力的提醒，提醒我們為促進正義和平等需要不懈的努力。
MORE INFORMATION
emancipation n. 解放
commemorate vt. 緬懷；紀念
proclamation n. 宣言；聲明
liberation n. 解放；解脫
Black Lives Matter
黑人的命也是命（起源於非裔美國族群的社會運動，旨在反對針對黑人的暴力行為和凸顯種族歧視問題；西元2020年，美國非裔男子佛洛伊德因為警察執法過當死亡後，相關抗爭運動席捲全球）
KEY VOCABULARY
1. slavery n. 奴隸制；奴隸身分
Slavery is one of the greatest crimes humans have ever committed against each other.
奴隸制度是人類對彼此做過最嚴重的罪行之一。
2. resistance n. 抵抗；反抗；阻力
There was widespread resistance to the trade deal that the government tried to pass.
政府欲通過的貿易協定掀起了民眾普遍的反對。
3. abolish vt. 廢止；廢除
The government abolished a law that prevented new immigrants from voting.
政府廢除了阻止新移民投票的法律。
4. incident n. 事件；事故
There were at least ten incidents of theft at the outdoor music festival today.
今天在戶外音樂節至少有十起偷竊事件發生。
5. discrimination n. 歧視；差別對待
It’s depressing to know that people from ethnic minorities still face discrimination these days.
得知當今少數族裔的人們仍會面臨歧視真令人沮喪。
6. emergence n. 出現；擺脫困境
The emergence of self-driving cars could signal a huge change in the way people get around.
自動駕駛汽車的出現表示人們移動的方式將有巨大的改變。
7. federal adj. 聯邦（制）的；聯邦政府的
The spy was tried in a federal court for selling his country’s military secrets to another nation.
這個間諜在聯邦法庭受審，因為他將國家的軍事機密賣給另一個國家。
8. landmark n. 里程碑；重大事件；地標
The court’s decision was a landmark moment for the country’s civil rights movement.
法院的裁決是該國公民權運動的里程碑時刻。
9. continuous adj. 不斷的；連續的
The project requires continuous monitoring to ensure its progress.
該專案需要持續監控以確保其進度。
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