[/caption]Today is Juneteenth, or June, 16th. This day is also known as Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day. It is a holiday in the United States that honors African Americans and commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in the U.S. State of Texas. The term, Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth. It is also recognized as a state holiday in 36 states of the United States. The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas for more than a century. Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations, it then gradually spread across other states.
A tradition of Juneteenth includes an enunciated public reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. This serves as a reminder that the slaves have been proclaimed free.
There is nothing that you have to do on Juneteenth, however I do advise that you take a moment and contemplate your freedom and remember what that represents.
Many people in the world have not even heard of the luxury we call freedom. The things that we complain about here would be considered petty when compared to other peoples' problems.
Although Juneteenth is typically observed by African Americans in the United States, the freeing of slaves affected every race. It changed the way we think about each other and about all of mankind. It lessened the former arrogance of white Americans and it helped strengthen our Union.
So, when you are reading this, take a moment to stop and think about what life would have been if this day had not happened. You are one of the lucky few people in this world who are free and who have rights and privileges that many people in the world can only dream of.
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