Juneteenth
Juneteenth, a combination of "June" and "nineteenth", is an African-American holiday celebrating the emancipation of slavery in the United States in 1865. Although President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, there weren't many Union soldiers in the south to enforce it. June 19 is the day the message was finally delivered to the last city, Galveston, Texas: "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free." Finally, all the states had received the news. In the times to follow, even though slavery had ended, Black people were still treated poorly and had to work hard for equal rights. The fight for equality is one that still continues today. This holiday is celebrated with gatherings, lots of food, and sharing stories of history and hope. Some cities have parades. It is a celebration to honor their ancestors and to look to the future with hope and love. |
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