Washingtonians are celebrating Juneteenth on Monday, a day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
The holiday's name is a mashup of "June" and "nineteenth," marking the anniversary of the day when slaves in Texas learned they were free, according to Juneteenth.com. The announcement reached them more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, when Major Gen. Gordon Granger came to Galveston to enforce the president's directive.
"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free," the general's order read.
In 2003, D.C. passed legislation that made Juneteenth a District holiday, according to the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign.
In honor of Juneteenth, the National Museum of African American History and Culture's Sweet Home Cafe is serving up a special menu all this week, including Texas-style hickory smoked barbecue. For a full menu, go here.
A free Juneteenth run in D.C. is set for Wednesday, kicking off 927 Ohio Drive SW on Hains Point. The 1500-meter kicks off at 12 p.m., with the 3000-meter and 5000-meter beginning at 12:15 p.m.
Ronald Myers Sr., chair of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign, will be there. He's pushing to make Juneteenth a national American holiday, as it is currently an official holiday in only 41 states and Washington, D.C.
