India, June 11 -- justify;">Some holidays are about fireworks, others are about flags. Juneteenth? It commemorates the date when hundreds of thousands of enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed that they were free, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, ending slavery, was signed.

Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19. This year, it falls on Thursday. It is a day soaked in memory, resistance, and celebration. For many, the day is all about reclaiming a history that was too often buried or ignored. Here's a look at why Juneteenth matters, how it's observed, and what you should know before the day arrives.

Often referred to as America's "second Independence Day," Juneteenth marks the day enslaved Black people in T...