See six reasons to celebrate the African American historic holiday | Juneteenth.
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Juneteenth - While most slaves were freed through the Emancipation Proclamation effective January 1863, slaves in states under Confederate control were still held. Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) is the day Union troops came to Galveston Island, Texas and forced the state to free its slaves.
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Juneteenth - Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas since 1865.
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Juneteenth - Abolitionist Frederick Douglass wrote "Juneteenth should be more important to Black people than the 4th of July because when the Declaration of Independence was signed, the words did not apply to Black people."
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Juneteenth - Since 1980, Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas. In 1998, the state made plans to erect a Juneteenth Memorial Monument on the south grounds of the state Capitol in Austin.
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Juneteenth - As of February 2008, 26 states have recognized Juneteenth as either a state holiday or state holiday observance; these include Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, Delaware, Idaho, Alaska, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Missouri, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina and the District of Columbia.
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Juneteenth - Juneteenth, which originated in Galveston, Texas, is traditionally celebrated with a large, all-day, outdoor potluck feast. The traditional dishes served usually include barbecue, cakes, pies and watermelon.
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