Emancipation Day, better known as Juneteenth, commemorates June 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger landed in Galveston, Texas with Federal troops and announced the end of slavery. More isolated geographically, Texas slavery had persisted two and a-half years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. African American descendants of freed slaves celebrate this day with festivities that include eating barbecue, drinking strawberry soda pop, and singing James Weldon Johnson's song "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

I thank pix for the "Chain Reaction" illustration.

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