Emancipation Day

Today marks the yearly celebration of Juneteenth. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on September 22, 1862l; became effective on January 1, 1863; the day-to-day lives of most slaves, especially those in Confederate controlled Texas, were not effected because the slaves were not notified of the proclamation and there was no one to enforce the declaration.

The slaves in Galveston, Texas were finally notified of their freedom on June 19, 1865 after the arrival of Union General Gordon Granger and his 2,000 federal troops. General Granger was able to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation and the slaves were finally set free.

Juneteenth is an official holiday in Arkansas, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, Alaska, and California.