Shining a Light on Juneteenth

The County Administration Center will be illuminated in red, yellow and green tonight in honor of Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery on Jan. 1, 1863. But it was not until June 19, 1865, that enslaved African Americans in Galveston Bay, Texas were notified by Union troops that they, along with all other enslaved black people in the state, were free. The day has grown into a time to celebrate, gather, reflect on the past and look to the future.

The National Museum of African American History & Culture describes Juneteenth as a monumental yet often overlooked event in our nation’s history. The museum has more information about the holiday.