the buzz log

President Abraham Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862, declaring that slaves would be free on New Year's Day. However, their release took another 170 days in territories still under Confederate control. The standoff ended when a Union general and 2,000 federal troops rode into Galveston, Texas, to back up the executive order with military might.

Juneteenth therefore is a curious observance, in that it celebrates the June 19 reality rather than the September 22 declaration. Recognized in 27 states, a movement to call for national recognition has been around for years, but as Time magazine notes in its overview, the enthusiasm has "waxed and waned."

The Buzz gives the day its due. The Root provides a primer on black independence, while the Austin American-Statesman visits the actual site where emancipation had been celebrated, now a public housing apartment. A museum curator speaks with contagious fervor to NPR about the "truth about Juneteenth," including the integrated troops of that time.

The urge for a national holiday spirit might be waning, however. Searches for "juneteenth," while among the week's top 10,000 terms, are about half of what they were this time last year. Still, the opinion page in Galveston News still calls for a commemorative day. Moreover, as the Time piece notes, the list of politicians who have supported elevating Juneteenth includes Senator Barack Obama.