Emancipation in Black history refers to the crucial moment when enslaved African Americans were legally freed from bondage. The most well-known Emancipation in U.S. history is the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War. This proclamation declared that all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were to be set free.

However, it is important to note that the Emancipation Proclamation did not immediately end slavery in the United States, as it only applied to Confederate states in rebellion, where the Union had limited control. It was not until the passage of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1865 that slavery was officially abolished nationwide.

Emancipation was a vital milestone in Black history, marking the end of the horrific institution of slavery and paving the way for the long and challenging struggle for civil rights and equality for African Americans. Emancipation Day is now celebrated in various states and communities across the United States to honor this pivotal moment in Black history.