Thursday is Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the day the last group of enslaved people in the U.S. became free.
It represents a day of liberation for the African-American community. It’s something people have celebrated for more than 150 years.
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Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. On this day 160 years ago, 2,000 troops marched to Galveston, Texas, and told the last group of enslaved people they were finally free.
Organizers said Juneteenth is a day that truly honors American history as a whole, and it brings to light the importance of engaging in tough and sometimes uncomfortable conversations about the topic.
The largest Juneteenth celebration in the state is held each year in Portsmouth.
On Thursday, participants started marching in Kittery and walked over the Memorial Bridge to Portsmouth’s African Burying Ground, a memorial park that honors the lives of enslaved people buried beneath the ground.
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Organizers said this year’s march was the largest they have had to date.
Events included African drumming and dance, several speeches made by organizations and local and federal elected officials, and a rededication of the African Burying Ground for its 10th anniversary in the city.
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire also unveiled its new augmented reality outdoor museum, which brings the area’s history to people through their smartphone.
