Black History Knowledge — June 19

What happened on this day. These are the June 19 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.

1862 — Slavery is prohibited in U.S. federal territories

On June 19, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation banning slavery in current and future federal territories. This was one of the major steps toward national emancipation before the Emancipation Proclamation took effect.

1865 — General Order No. 3 announces freedom in Texas

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 in Galveston, Texas, announcing that enslaved people in Texas were free. This moment became the foundation of Juneteenth, one of the oldest known Black freedom celebrations in the United States.

1953 — The Baton Rouge Bus Boycott begins

On June 19, 1953, Rev. T. J. Jemison and other Baton Rouge leaders urged Black passengers to boycott the city’s segregated bus system. The campaign organized carpools and became an important model for the Montgomery Bus Boycott two years later.

1968 — Solidarity Day brings the Poor People’s Campaign to Washington

On June 19, 1968, tens of thousands gathered in Washington, D.C., for Solidarity Day during the Poor People’s Campaign. The action connected civil rights to economic justice, demanding jobs, income, housing, and dignity for poor people across racial lines.