On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people were free, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
That day became Juneteenth: America's second Independence Day. A celebration of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward true equality.
Take a little time today to learn the history behind it:
📚 Smithsonian NMAAHC — The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
🏛️ Library of Congress — Juneteenth Fact Sheet
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R44865
🗞️ Smithsonian Magazine — Juneteenth: Our Other Independence Day
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/juneteenth-our-other-independence-day-16340952/
#Juneteenth #FreedomDay #Juneteenth2026