The origin of the Juneteenth celebrations marking the end of slavery in the U.S. goes back to an order issued as Union troops arrived in Texas at the end of the Civil War.

Juneteenth is all about celebrating Black culture, history, and life, bringing people together to honor all those who came before us and fought for the rights and privileges we hold today.

The U.S. government is catching up with Black people who have been commemorating the end of slavery in the United States for generations with a day called “Juneteenth.”

The third annual Juneteenth Freedom Walk Parade drew crowds together Saturday to recognize the emancipated ex-slaves' journey from slavery to freedom.

The United States government is catching up with Black people who have been commemorating the end of slavery in the United States for generations with a day called “Juneteenth.”.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. The legacy of Jacksonville native James Weldon Johnson is getting national attention today on Juneteenth, but one council member wants to make the name a permanent fixture in the River City. Councilman Garret Dennis is working to rename Hemming Park, James Weldon Johnson park. The resolution came about after the city of Jacksonville removed a Confederate statue gifted to the state of Florida by Jacksonville civil war veteran Charles Hemming. The homepage of Google today commemorates the 155th anniversary of June 19 -- largely celebrated as the end of slavery in the US -- with a video Google Doodle. A blend of the words June and nineteenth, Juneteenth is the oldest known US celebration of the end of slavery.

The June 19 holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia mark June 19 as a state holiday or observance. But -- despite a push by activists over the years -- Juneteenth still isn't a federal holiday. What Juneteenth isJuneteenth -- a blending of the words June and nineteenth -- is the oldest regular US celebration of the end of slavery. Juneteenth has been celebrated informally since 1865, but Texas became the first state to make it a state holiday in 1980.

Although slavery was already abolished more than two years earlier by the Emancipation Proclamation, it continued in some areas. Some businesses have professed support for the Black Lives Matter movement or pledged to donate money to organizations. Others have promised to hire more black workers or make other policy changes. This week, Nike CEO John Donahoe told workers they would get Juneteenth off starting this year as a way to celebrate black culture and history. The power of this historical feat in our countrys blemished history is felt each year," Goodell wrote in a memo.