Philly State Senator Looking To Recognize Juneteenth In PA

PHILADELPHIA — A state senator from Philadelphia is looking to recognize the Juneteenth holiday in Pennsylvania.

State Sen. Sharif Street (D-3rd District) along with State Sen. Judith Schwank (D-11th District) submitted a memorandum about recognizing June 19 as Juneteenth in Pennsylvania.

Juneteenth marks the date when the last enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865.

According to the memorandum, Juneteenth is one of the oldest African-American holiday observances in the United States that began as a celebration to experience the jubilation and reassurance that came with the end of the Civil War for people who were enslaved, and quickly spread from Galveston to the rest of the United States.

Celebrations typically include baseball, rodeo, and barbecues, to guest speaker events that focus on education, self-improvement, and prayer.

"The holiday today seeks to proliferate the ideas of self-improvement, the celebration of African culture, and respect for all cultures," the memorandum reads. "This day of pride is incredibly significant to many Pennsylvanians, and as such, it deserves to be recognized in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."