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CBS America

Inside the history of Juneteenth

CBS America · 2 months ago
CBS America
CBS America
2 months ago

It's Juneteenth and that means Opal's Walk for Freedom took place in Fort Worth, Texas. The annual 2.5 mile walk symbolizes the two-and-a-half years it took for news of freedom to reach enslaved people in Texas.

Breakdown
  • Opal's Walk for Freedom in Fort Worth, Texas, symbolizes the delay in emancipation news reaching enslaved people.
  • Opal Lee's granddaughter led the walk this year, continuing the tradition. 21s
  • Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when freedom reached Galveston, Texas, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. 1m 4s
  • The holiday was federally recognized in 2021 and is seen as a step toward full democracy and racial justice. 1m 17s
  • Mark Morial emphasized the importance of national observance and inclusive celebration of Juneteenth. 2m 44s
HistoryRace & Ethnicity