"The demise of what many have called America's 'original sin' would seem to be a likely candidate for frequent, even annual, commemoration nationwide. The moment when millions of black people finally gained the liberation they had been fighting for since at least 1619 deserves space in the calendar to help people remember who America truly is and how much effort it takes to overcome the racism that often characterizes life in this nation. At present, the most logical occasion to mark the abolition of slavery, Juneteenth, is marked at the state but not at the national level.
Juneteenth, a mash-up of the words June and nineteenth, remembers the day in 1865 when slaves in Texas finally learned about their emancipation. It is the oldest-known celebration of black freedom from slavery. While over forty states currently recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or observance, it should become a national one. "
If you want to experience a little of Waterloo, Iowa's Juneteenth celebration, you can go to "NAACP of Black Hawk County" on Facebook.
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