1865 — Emancipation Day Celebrated in Florida

On May 20, 1865, the Emancipation Proclamation was publicly read in Tallahassee, Florida, marking the official end of slavery in the state. Though Lincoln had signed the proclamation in 1863, enforcement reached Florida only after Union forces arrived. Today, May 20 is celebrated as Florida\’s Emancipation Day, especially in Tallahassee, where cultural festivals, reenactments, and public readings honor the resilience of formerly enslaved African Americans. This regional observance underscores the staggered and uneven implementation of emancipation across the South. Florida\’s celebration on May 20 is a critical piece of the larger emancipation narrative, often overshadowed by Juneteenth. Recognizing this date deepens our understanding of how freedom was declared, delayed, and defended across different states.