June 19 1865
From Galveston to Mississippi: Tracing the Real Story of June 19, 1865
More than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that slavery had ended. This look at Juneteenth explores how freedom unfolded across the South, including Mississippi, and why the story remains relevant today.
Who Started Juneteenth?
Juneteenth began in 1865 in Galveston, Texas, when freedom was finally announced to enslaved people. It grew into a celebration carried by Black families, churches, and communities long before becoming a federal holiday.