This historic day commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States, and it’s more relevant now than ever as we strive to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in everything we do. Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19th each year, marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, bringing the news of freedom to the last remaining enslaved African Americans.
Juneteenth: Celebrating the End of Slavery
What are your plans to celebrate Juneteenth this year?
If you haven’t heard of this holiday before, Juneteenth is celebrated on the 19th of June and it is the oldest recorded celebration to commemorate when slavery came to an end in the USA.
It was established in 1865 when the Union Soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas and Major General Gordon Granger announced that those who were enslaved were now free.
This festival is held every year, especially in the Southern states of America, to celebrate the emancipation of the slaves.
In early years due to deeply ingrained racism the holiday was banned from being publicly celebrated, however the Civil Rights Movement brought with it a resurgence of Juneteenth celebrations and in 1980 it became an official state holiday.
