On July 4, 1776, America’s founders declared our national ideals of equality and opportunity. These new stories celebrate those ideals as well as our struggle to live up to them. What does Independence Day mean to you?

On June 19th, 1865, news of the end of the civil war and the Thirteenth Amendment reached Galveston, Texas. Community members gathered the next year to celebrate the anniversary of their emancipation, and the tradition soon spread across America. This collection features stories of Americans reflecting on the history of Juneteenth and how we observe it today, both as a moment to come together in celebration of progress made and as a reminder of a painful history and fights for justice yet to come.