Juneteenth marks a day in 1865 that this country became more free Editor's Note: We published a version of this editorial last year to mark Juneteenth and have updated it for the 153rd anniversary of that momentous occasion.
Tuesday marks the annual recognition of Juneteenth. It represents the anniversary of the date — June 19, 1865 — that word of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas, officially freeing the last slaves held in the United States. It is an annual designation that has regional pockets of acknowledgment but which sadly remains unknown to most Americans. During the past several decades, both houses of Congress have paid lip service to federal recognition, with no real results.
Source: Daily Press
