June 19th is Juneteenth! Join this worldwide celebration that honors the end of slavery in the United States. Today, we reflect on part of America’s history, and commemorate the freedom and independence of African Americans in America and around the world. Juneteenth was first celebrated in Texas in 1865 and has since spread across the United States and worldwide.
People often wonder why Juneteenth is celebrated on the 19th of June, instead of on September 22nd, when the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Lincoln. The answer to this question is of great historical significance to the history of the United States: It was on June 18th that the Union Army marched into Galveston, Texas and enforced Lincoln's emancipation. Since then, celebrations in Galveston have been among the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the world!