Celebrated on June 18th and 19th, Juneteenth celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation, which was issued by President Lincoln in 1863. The document took two years to reach the entire nation, and it was on days in June in 1865 that the Union Army brought news that African Americans were free in one of the farthest stretches of the Confederate States- Galveston, Texas.
Juneteenth was first celebrated in Texas, but southern states such as Alabama and Florida also observed the holiday. According to the official Juneteenth website, the event "commemorates African-American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing."
While the event holds great significance, Juneteenth celebrations have waned over the years. Those who still observe the special days do so in a variety of different ways.
Some communities hold educational conferences on the history of slavery in America, while some school display their support for African American communities with skits, dance and dramas. Families often get together for dinners and barbecues, all in an effort to celebrate the end of slavery and remember those who made it happen.
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