Today is Juneteenth! If you are like me who didn’t grow up in the U.S., you probably didn’t hear about Juneteenth till you lived in the U.S. for a few years. Actually, many who were born and raised in the U.S. don’t know about Juneteenth.
“Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.” (juneteenth.com)
Although the fight for racial equality is not over, America has come a long way. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law 2 days ago to make June 19th a federal holiday.
Exactly a year ago, I wrote about how many African immigrants can feel disconnected from African American history. It’s apparent that the past year has made us more aware of American history and the influence of race in our perceptions and experiences. I think it has also unified us a little more as Black people.
On this day, learn about Juneteenth at Juneteenth.com and watch the short video below on why it is an important part of American history.
Another great post.