What Is Juneteenth, How Is It Celebrated, and Why Does It Matter?

Today Is Juneteenth June 19th is the annual celebration of Juneteenth. After Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery in 1862, it took almost three years for it to fully take hold. On June 19th, 1865, America’s final slaves were freed in Galveston, Texas. The holiday was created in Texas to commemorate the day back in 1980. Although Juneteenth isn’t a federal holiday, 43 of 50 states observe the day as a ceremonial holiday. More than 200 US cities have some sort of Juneteenth celebration.  Do you have a Juneteenth celebration in your area?