Juneteenth
On June 19, 1865, two years after the American Civil War ended and President Lincoln officially emancipated the slaves, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas and gave the last of the slaves the news. The anniversary of these June 19th events was coined "Juneteenth," and the celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. A range of activities were provided to entertain the masses, many of which continue in tradition today: rodeos, fishing, barbecuing and baseball. On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday in Texas thanks to Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. Since Juneteenth focuses on education and self improvement, many other states have taken his lead. Scroll down to find events and more.
See also: holidays, African Americans, Black History Month
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