Juneteenth

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger of the United States Army marched into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order Number 3, declaring, “all slaves are free.”  With this order, the message enshrined in President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 was brought to Texas, unshackling thousands of slaves who had remained in bondage.  Six months later, the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery in the United States once and for all.

Today, Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future.

information from pbs.org and juneteenth.com