Juneteenth has come to symbolize for many African Americans what the 4th of July symbolizes for all Americans: freedom. Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of more than 250,000 slaves at the close of the Civil War. The celebration is based on events that occurred mainly in Texas, but it is now celebrated nationally and is recognized as a state holiday in 37 states of the United States, including New York. The name Juneteenth is a portmanteau of June and nineteenth, a celebration that takes its name from the day Union troops, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas on...