From Jim Hannum, UUCUC Member
Juneteenth (a combination of June and nineteenth) is an American holiday celebrated annually on June 19. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union general Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and read federal orders that all previously enslaved people were free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had formally freed the slaves almost two and a half years earlier, enforcement of the proclamation was slow because Texas was the most remote of the confederate states. (adapted from Wikipedia.com)
In the ensuing decades, Juneteenth commemorations featured music, barbecues, prayer services and other activities, and as black people migrated from Texas to other parts of the country the Juneteenth tradition spread. In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday. Today 47 states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. (adapted from History.com)
For more information, check this PBS website: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/what-is-juneteenth/
Locally, you can celebrate Juneteenth by joining the Peace Walk and Celebration at 4pm, June 19th in Champaign. For more information: https://uucuc.org/events/juneteenth-peace-walk-celebration/