00:00Every year, Americans around the country celebrate Independence Day on the 4th of July.
00:07We visit with friends and family, we have barbecues, and at the end of the day, we celebrate with fireworks.
00:14But far too many people don't understand what Juneteenth is, and for Black Americans, it's equally special.
00:23The holiday also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Celebration Day.
00:29Juneteenth was designated to commemorate the freeing of slaves.
00:33Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863.
00:38But it wasn't until two years later, on June 19th, 1865, that General Gordon Granger informed slaves in Galveston, Texas, that they were free.
00:48So why did it take so long for slaves to find out they were free?
00:52Several theories include the fact that news just didn't travel fast back then.
00:56Eye roll.
00:57What's more likely is that slave masters didn't want their slaves free, so they simply didn't tell them.
01:04Some even claimed that people literally killed the messenger in order to keep their free labor.
01:09And here's something more ironic.
01:11So that original announcement that was put out, well, they suggested that slaves stay with their masters and get paid for work.
01:19But nah, that wasn't happening.
01:20More than a century later, Texas was the first state to declare the day a state holiday.
01:27Fast forward to our present day, 2020, people are still fighting for Juneteenth to be recognized by the federal government.
01:35Even when, as a young senator, and during his presidency, Barack Obama attempted to pass legislation, noting it as such.
01:42Imagine how many people out there who, one, don't know the significance of Juneteenth, but then also schools don't teach it much.
01:49As you head out to celebrate Juneteenth, remember all the ancestors that came before you and fought for our freedom.
01:57And then remember that so many more of us have a long fight ahead.
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