Juneteenth 2025
June 19 marks Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day. On this day in 1865, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, freedom finally reached Galveston Bay, Texas. While the proclamation had declared that “all persons held as slaves” in Confederate states “are, and henceforward shall be free,” that promise remained unfulfilled in areas still under Confederate control.
It wasn’t until Union troops arrived in Texas on June 19 that more than 250,000 enslaved Black people learned they were free by executive decree. That day became known as Juneteenth, and has been honored through generations as a celebration of Black freedom, resilience, and joy.
To learn more about Juneteenth, its history, and its significance, check out the following resources:
- National Museum of African American History and Culture – Juneteenth
- NAACP – Juneteenth
- The New York Times – The History of Juneteenth
- Associated Press – The beginner’s guide to celebrating Juneteenth
In observance of Juneteenth, HMA Public Relations will be closed on Thursday, June 19. We will resume regular business hours on Friday, June 20.
