Today is Juneteenth – a contraction of today’s date — June 19th – and many Americans, especially southerners, blacks, and Texans will be celebrating the end of slavery at the conclusion of the Civil War.
Juneteenth is the oldest regular U-S celebration of the end of slavery. It commemorates June 19th, 1865 — the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told slaves of their emancipation.
The holiday was first observed in Texas where it was called Jubilee Day for many years. It was later renamed Juneteenth and celebrations spread across the country. Today, Juneteenth is a holiday or special observance in 48 states.
