AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

In honor of Juneteenth, here are some options for how you can observe the holiday by making monetary donations to some very historical places in the Houston area that could use your support.

The June 19 holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Forty-seven states and the District of Columbia mark June 19 as a state holiday or observance. But -- despite a push by activists over the years -- Juneteenth still isn't a federal holiday. Here's what to know about Juneteenth. Juneteenth has been celebrated informally since 1865, but Texas became the first state to make it a state holiday in 1980.