Juneteenth

Freedom

As most high school students learn,  President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.  Many of students are not aware that it was not until two years later, the news finally reached  Galveston, Texas.  At that time, 250,000 individuals in Texas were still enslaved.

Juneteenth celebrations have long been recognized in Texas. Slowly, celebrations have been expanded across the nation. This year marks the 155 celebration of Juneteenth.

This flag is the symbolic representation of the end of slavery. Created by Ben Haith in 1997. Haith is the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. In 2000, the flag was revised to include the date, June 19, 1865.

The star... represents Texas, the Lone Start State.
The colors ... red, white, and blue represent the American Flag. This is a reminder that the slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.

Today, there is a nationwide effort to make Juneteenth a  national holiday. What do you think?