Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19th. It commemorates the day, in1865 , that enslaved African Americans, living in Texas, learned slavery was outlawed in the United States. Two years earlier, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation declared an end to the inhumane practice of slavery. Juneteenth has previously been called African American Freedom Day and Emancipation Day. Although it is only recognized as a legal holiday in the state of Texas, millions of African Americans honor the significance of this important day in history.