Juneteenth, is an annual federal holiday, with its name derived from combining the words June and nineteenth. The holiday commemorates the day federal troops arrived in Texas to free enslaved Africans on June 19, 1865, more than 2 years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a widely held belief that the Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery, but in fact, many areas remained slave territories.
Juneteenth celebrations have been held since the late 1800s by African Americans and has now become a more widely held celebration nationwide. It is a day to reflect on the struggles, achievements and contributions of African Americans throughout history. TruLite Health recognizes that there is much to do to reduce health disparities and improve health equity. Juneteenth should be a day of reflection to examine biases that may impede our goals to improve health outcomes for everyone.
