21 Powerful Juneteenth Quotes to Inspire You to Learn About the Holiday's History

This marks the 156th year that Juneteenth is observed in the United States. Every year on June 19, the holiday is celebrated to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth is rooted in history — although President Abraham Lincoln declared the emancipation proclamation on the first day of 1863, the news didn't reach Texas for another two and a half years. It specifically hit on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger and Union soldiers first brought news to Galveston that enslaved people were now free. Since then, the holiday has been observed in 45 U.S. states over time.

There are tons of ways to celebrate Juneteenth, including festivals, marches and cookouts, but it's also a time where Americans acknowledge the injustices of the country's past and uplift the voices of the Black community. More recently, people have celebrated Juneteenth by taking the streets and protesting in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. If you're looking to learn and be moved by the history of Juneteenth, read these quotes by prominent Black leaders.