August Spencer
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Juneteenth is an often-overlooked event in our nation’s history, according to The National Museum of African American History and Culture and The Smithsonian Institution.
The Juneteenth holiday marks the end of slavery in the United States, and U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in the East Room of the White House on June 17, 2021, in Washington, D.C.
Thus, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday, opening it to symbolic and global interpretation and providing a better understanding of the evolution of our nation and its people.
Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American resilience and achievement, while preserving history and community traditions.
Juneteenth celebrations recognize the ongoing fight for human rights and equality and are commemorated through family cookouts, faith services, musical performances and storytelling.
At the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston, South Carolina, J.O.Y. | Juneteenth on the Yard will feature a day filled with music, food, and community connection from 12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
With free admission all day, officials say it’s the perfect opportunity to tour the IAAM and honor this important day in a space dedicated to reflection, joy, and healing.
On June 19, 1865, Union troops freed enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay and across Texas some two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
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