Juneteenth 2014

The understanding and excitement of Juneteenth is growing at a remarkable rate. All across the United States and beyond, cities and states are realizing the opportunity to come together to celebrate a noteworthy historical time.

The celebration on Juneteenth started when Union soldiers, led by General Gordon Granger, arrived to take control of Texas and enforce Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves two and a half year prior. Starting June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, Union Soldiers got the news that the war ended and slaves were now free.

After 1865, Juneteenth was strongly celebrated in Texas. It is known that cities such as Austin, Houston, and Mexia have parks that been established on land bought by former slaves to hold special Juneteenth celebrations. Since the 1970s, a movement was made for Juneteenth to be an official National Holiday or Day of Observance.  The celebration of Juneteenth is also held in other countries around the world including Japan, Taiwan and Trinidad.

Juneteenth is celebrated in different ways from cooking out with traditional foods with your family and friends to recognizing this day in the workplace by maybe decorating a workspace with Juneteenth theme. Juneteenth is one of many days of remembrance to celebrate and honor African American history.

Juneteenth 2014 Events

Celebrate Freedom at the Dallas MLK Center's Juneteenth Festival -- Visitors are invited to enjoy the city's annual Juneteenth event, a fun-filled family festival from noon to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center at 2922 MLK Jr. Boulevard. This free event will feature vendors, games, food, live music from local artists, and live radio broadcasts.

In Tarrant County, a Juneteenth celebration will be held in Mosier Valley, the community founded by former slaves Robert and Dilsie Johnson and 10 other emancipated slave families. Juneteenth will be celebrated at 6 p.m. June 19 at 11220 Mosier Valley Road in Euless. An informal reception will follow at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 3324 House Anderson Road in Euless. Admission is free.

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