Juneteenth is an Emancipation Day celebration. It marks the the freeing of the slaves in Texas, the last state in the Confederacy where slaves were liberated by the Union, 2+ years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. From its roots as a Black-Texan holiday, the celebration of Juneteenth is spreading across America. 14 states have Juneteenth as an official state holiday (cheap enough to do since it always falls on the third Saturday of June and therefore there is no cost in terms of added vacation time for public employees), and some white folks are starting to celebrate it as well. Here are some news articles about different celebrations around the country. What kid doesn't like to drink "red soda water" on a hot summer day? There are even ecards for Juneteenth up on Amazon, although they aren't very good. Juneteenth. It's not just the name of Ralph Ellison's unfinished novel.
