Juneteenth Legacy: How Is It Connected to the Galveston Hurricane of 1900?

Every year, June 19 celebrates Juneteenth, a federal holiday in the U.S. that memorializes the termination of slavery in Galveston, Texas. Also known as Freedom Day, the celebration involves street festivals, fairs, concerts, and other public gatherings. While Juneteenth is a way of honoring the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, it is connected to other significant events in Galveston.

(Photo: Unsplash/ Tasha Jolley)

Historical Significance of Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, US Brigadier General Gordon Granger, a U.S. Army officer and Union General during the Civil War, arrived at Galveston, Texas, with his federal troops. He issued an order confirming the end of the Civil War and the freedom of enslaved African Americans. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation two years prior, where all enslaved people in Confederate states were granted their freedom. Almost 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas were the last to hear the proclamation. The two-year delay was seen as the failure of the military presence in Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation.

Since the Civil War ended, many African Americans celebrated this day and connected this to American culture. Although many people are already familiar with Juneteenth over the years, it has become more popular since the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law by U.S. President Joseph Biden on June 17, 2021. It was only then that this celebration was federally recognized.

How is the Celebration Connected to the Galveston Hurricane?

Galveston, Texas, sets the stage in connecting Juneteenth and the worst natural disaster in the U.S. Three decades after the historical emancipation of enslaved people, an intense hurricane devastated Galveston, Texas, on September 8, 1900.

They are commonly referred to as the "Galveston Hurricane of 1900" or "Galveston Flood," this hurricane is still considered the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history. According to Galveston History Center, almost 8000 people died on Galveston Island, and thousands more fatalities were reported on the mainland. Based on the modern hurricane wind scale, the storm would likely have been a Category 4 hurricane.

During this time, there were no technologies yet to monitor hurricanes, such as computer models, weather satellites, or Doppler radar, so it was assumed that authorities and residents did not have any warning of an upcoming disaster. In 1900, it was not yet possible for ships to telegraph information back to the coast. However, a historical account by the National Park Service states that the residents of Galveston were already aware of the coming storm since September 4, but the details were not properly communicated.

Aside from the city itself, race dynamics also play a crucial role in connecting Juneteenth and the Galveston Hurricane of 1900. According to some accounts, many African Americans got involved in the cleanup and recovery. In an essay published by the Temple Hoyne Buell Center for the Study of American Architecture, historian Andy Horowitz discussed the accusations about African Americans being serial looters after the disaster, leading them to get killed by the mob.