"On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived
in Galveston, Texas, and read the announcement that all enslaved
African-Americans were free, sharing the news more than two months after
the South surrendered in the Civil War and more than two and a half
years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
"Black
Texans began celebrating the holiday in 1866, though in recent decades
has it gained prominence around the country. Typically celebrated with
gatherings, parades, prayer, and foods like barbecue and strawberry
soda, the holiday — a combination of its month and date — is widely
considered African-Americans’ Independence Day." -- The New York Times, which is carrying live updates of Juneteenth events and has a host of Juneteenth - related information and links.
It's safe to say this is a Juneteenth that will be celebrated in a different and more profound way than most other Juneteenths. It's hard not to see these times as an inflection point in our history, with so many eyes and hearts finally being opened to the suffering from systemic racism that still exists in our country 155 years after the first Juneteenth. We must seize this moment to make the changes necessary to make all future Juneteenths a meaningful and true "celebration of freedom."
