Juneteenth celebrations have been happening across the United States for years, but this year the day’s profile has been elevated as a result of heightened awareness of racial inequality following the death of George Floyd and amidst growing recognition of the Black Lives Matter movement.
For those of you who may not be familiar with the origins of Juneteenth – the day represents the oldest known nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865.
On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger led his Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas where he announced that the Civil War had ended and proclaimed that all the slaves were free. Of note, this happened two and half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
On this Juneteenth, we embrace the opportunity to reflect and rejoice, while continuing to improve as a society and move forward to learn more and do more to address racism and racial inequality.
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