Juneteenth continues to be celebrated in cities with Black populations through a series of parades, family reunions, speeches, and consuming of specific foods with a red color including barbeque, watermelon (an African fruit), and “red soda water” (primarily strawberry soda).

Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off. “The most important thing everyone should do is be able to quickly answer the question 'What is Juneteenth? '” Morial said.

Juneteenth celebrates the day on which those in Galveston found out about their freedom, but there are other states across the country, such as New York, Ohio, Mississippi and Florida, that have their own emancipation days.