Today is Juneteenth in the United States. Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when enslaved Texans learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is indeed the day when all slaves were free.

It’s an important holiday to remember a dark part of American history where people owned people. It’s something that should never be repeated. Freedom takes vigilance and practice. I celebrate with those whose ancestors were enslaved longer than they should have been.