LONDON - MARCH 29: A detail view of a length of chain in the muesum aboard the Tall ship Kaskelot, a replica of the 18th century wooden square rigger ship 'The Zong', on the River Thames by Tower Bridge on March 29, 2007 in London, England. Today's events form part of the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade act. The Zong was at the centre of a court case in 1783, after 133 slaves were thrown overboard in an insurance scam. The resulting public outrage led to the rise of the Abolitionist movement. (Photo by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

The annual Juneteenth celebration in Stockton is the anniversary of Texas abolishing of slavery. Recordnet.com reports that Stockton celebrates that day that the identity of blacks was returned to them in Texas.

STOCKTON – History is something many people learn in a classroom. But this weekend it comes to the real world.

The annual Juneteenth celebration in Stockton marks the anniversary (June 19, 1865) of Texas’ announcement of the abolition of slavery. That was the final chapter marking the end of slavery in the United States.

“The meaning of Juneteenth really is the identification and recognition of all slaves being freed,” said Terrence West, community social services director for Taft Community Center. “Reading history, you hear a lot of stories about when it happened, where it happened, who’s responsible. The feeling was very exuberant. A long time coming. We can exhale now and now we are considered part of the United States and not members of just the working class.”

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