Today we celebrate the day that the slaves were first freed in Galveston, Texas. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been officially in effect since January 1, 1863, many slaves were kept in parts of the South where there weren't enough Union forces to overcome the resistance for more than two years. It was on June 19th of 1865 that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free.
Though the holiday originates in Texas, Milwaukee has one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the world. Enjoy those festivities today and stop in at the MLK Library to get some books on your way home. Take a break from the heat since, even though there's no parking at MLK Library during the celebration, there is air conditioning!
