Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday or holiday observance in 29 states. Celebrated on June 19, it commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas.

The holiday originated in Galveston, Texas. For more than a century, Texas was the primary home of Juneteenth celebrations. Earlier this year, the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign announced that Vermont has become the newest state to make Juneteenth an official state observance.

“Vermont will join Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, Delaware, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, California, Wyoming, Illinois, Missouri, Connecticut, Louisiana, New Jersey, New York, Colorado, Arkansas, Oregon, Kentucky, Michigan, New Mexico, Virginia, Washington state, Tennessee, Massachusetts, North Carolina, West Virginia, South Carolina and the District of Columbia in recognizing the end of slavery in America,” said Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr., M.D., chairman of the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign.

Pennsylvania is not one of the 29 states that officially marks the holiday.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Juneteenth has continued to enjoy a growing and healthy interest from communities and organizations throughout the country. Institutions such as the Smithsonian, the Henry Ford Museum and others have begun sponsoring Juneteenth-centered activities. In recent years, a number of national Juneteenth organizations have risen to take their place beside the older organizations—all with a mission to promote and cultivate knowledge and appreciation of African-American history and culture.

Senator Barack Obama has been a key sponsor of Juneteenth legislation in the Senate and keynote speaker at the annual Juneteenth congressional reception.

Juneteenth today, celebrates African-American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures. As it takes on a more national and even global perspective, the events of 1865 in Texas are not forgotten, for all the roots go back to this fertile soil from which a national day of pride is growing. The future of Juneteenth looks bright as the number of cities and states come on board and form local committees and organizations to coordinate the activities.

Locally, Juneteenth observances include last weekend’s two-day observance in New Kensington, coordinated by the Alle-Kiski Cultural Enrichment Center and the 2008 AKCEC Juneteenth Committee.

This weekend finds the state tourism office getting in on the action. “Pennsylvania is considered to be the birthplace of the American dialogue on the issues of emancipation,” said Mickey Rowley, deputy secretary of tourism in the Department of Community and Economic Development.

“The Quakers in Philadelphia were the first to advocate in writing for the abolition of slavery and Pittsburgh’s Martin Delany published The Mystery newspaper to communicate with the enslaved and free in the mid-1800s. The Quest for Freedom Live and Learn Weekends provide an ideal setting to continue this discussion.”

The weekends in Philadelphia, Lancaster and Pittsburgh will include a scholar-led conversation about the corresponding books on June 20, followed by the historical site tours on June 21. Local activities take place at the Heinz History Center.

The featured book will be Eric Foner’s “Forever Free: The Story of Emancipation and Reconstruction.” This richly illustrated narrative follows the struggle for freedom from the Civil War to civil rights.

On June 19, the Langston Hughes Poetry Society of Pittsburgh presents its second annual Juneteenth Commemoration, “Lest We Forget,” from 5-8 p.m. at the YMCA of Pittsburgh, Homewood-Brushton Branch, 7140 Bennett St. Cost is $15 for adults at the door, $5 for children 7-14. For reservations, call 412-464-0321

Storyteller Roland Barksdale-Hall will present “Sankofa: Go Back and Fetch It” as the keynote speaker for Clarion University’s sixth annual Juneteenth Community Celebration, June 20 at 11:30 a.m. in the Gemmell Student Complex Multi-Purpose Room. The program is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served following the program.

Barksdale-Hall is founder of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society of Pittsburgh.

(For additional information on Juneteenth and its observances across the country, check out the National Juneteenth Holiday Campaign Web site at http://www.juneteenth.us.)