What is Juneteenth History and Celebration Legacy

Every June 19 more and more Americans celebrate Juneteenth to honor the end of slavery in the United States Juneteenth began in Texas on June 19 1865 the date when Union forces finally occupied the state and announced that emancipation had become law two and a half years earlier Despite the Emancipation Proclamation going into effect on Jan 1 1863 slavery remained a reality across much of the Confederacy until Union troops arrived to enforce U S law Slavery in the United States was ultimately declared not just illegal but unconstitutional with the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution on Dec 6 1865 Amidst this complicated history the Texas tradition of Juneteenth has grown in popularity across America as a single date to celebrate the end of the horrors of slavery The community gathers to enjoy food music dance speeches and rejoice in rebirth of hope

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