Juneteenth has served as the commemoration of the day when some of the last of the enslaved finally learned of their freedom in 1865. In 1865, two years had passed since the Emancipation Proclamation, and slaves were deemed “legally” free. Amid a global pandemic and weeks of protest calling for racial equality, Juneteenth is being recognized by more states and by an array of companies than it ever has been before. View pictures and read about the nationwide Juneteenth celebrations here.