 The end of slavery was declared in 1863, but it wasn't until June 19th, 1865, when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, that all black enslaved people were freed. For centuries, the black community has referred to this historic day as Juneteenth. This year, for the first time in New York City's history, we mark Juneteenth as a paid city holiday. Juneteenth is a day that all New Yorkers and all Americans should be proud to honor. It's a day when the promise of freedom matched black Americans' lived reality. But as we all know, there was only the start of a longer struggle. This Juneteenth let us honor our inspiring and troubled past and continue to build on the progress we have made.