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CBS America

Inside the history of Juneteenth

CBS America · 15 days ago
CBS America
CBS America
15 days 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.

BreakdownGenerated by LeadStory AI
  • 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