Americans are observing Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, following a United Nations resolution recognizing the transatlantic slave trade as a crime against humanity. The UN’s acknowledgement, passed earlier this year, formally labels the centuries-long practice as one of the most heinous violations of human rights in history. Juneteenth specifically marks the date in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce the end of slavery – over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. While the Proclamation had been issued in 1863, it wasn’t universally enforced. The holiday’s observance has gained increased prominence in recent years, becoming a federal holiday in 2021. This year’s commemoration is particularly poignant given the UN’s recent, formal condemnation of the slave trade’s brutality and lasting impact.