As Tali and Octavia discovered, Juneteenth is a holiday. Though the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 signed by Lincoln freed the slaves after the Civil War, it took a full 2 years later, on June 19, 1865, for a group of Union soldiers to ride into Galveston, TX and read a general order freeing 250,000 slaves in that state. Few, of course, were willing to break the news to the slaves before that date, so Texas was redeemed two years behind schedule. The bittersweet celebration was turned into an official state holiday in 1980, and GO TEXAS for making this something for everyone in Texas to enjoy. It’s one holiday I’m glad to cheer for as well.
May someday ALL slaves be free for real. Happy Juneteenth.
May all slaves be free for real. Amen to that.
I have been ignorant of this holiday. Thanks for educating me!