Southern states in the confederacy were not ready to give up their fight to secede or give up their way of life, which was made possible in large part through the blood, sweat and tears of African slaves.
Moreover, African American women represented 67% of all new AIDS cases among women, and were 23 times more likely to be infected than white women.
Today, Juneteenth is a celebration that recognizes and honors African American achievements in education and economic prosperity.