What is really ironic about Juneteenth is that slavery was still legal in some Northern states such as Delaware until the 13th Amendment was ratified in Dec of 1865, sic months after June 19.
And blacks even had an earlier “Emancipation Day” now forgotten.
On July 4, 1827—which was then called Emancipation Day by the local black population—all of the city’s African American churches held prayer and thanksgiving services. William Hamilton, trustee of African Zion Church, declared “no more shall the accursed name of slave be attached to us; no more shall Negro and slave be synonymous.”
Thanx for the info and link.