Juneteenth is a holiday that honors the end of slavery in the United States. On June19th, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and took control of the state, ensuring that all slaves were freed. This arrival of federal troops occurred two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation that proclaimed that all enslaved people be forever free. Juneteenth is the oldest African American holiday.
What does each symbol in the flag mean?
- STAR- Both Texas, the Lone Star State, where the event occurred and the freedom of African Americans from all 50 states
- BURST- Inspired by a nova, the birthing of a new star
- ARC- A new horizon, the opportunities that lay ahead for Black Americans
- COLORS- Red, white and blue represent the American flag, and remind us that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans
- DATE- June 19, 1865- the date enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas became free under the law.