Juneteenth

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on June 19th in the United States. The holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and recognizes the end of slavery in the United States. The name "Juneteenth" is a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth.“

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, which proclaimed the freedom of enslaved people in Texas, the last Confederate state where slavery was still in effect after the end of the American Civil War. This announcement came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Juneteenth has been celebrated by African American communities since its inception, but it has gained broader recognition and become more widely observed across the United States in recent years. It serves as a time for reflection, education, and celebration of African American history and culture. Activities and events on Juneteenth often include parades, cookouts, family gatherings, music, dance, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.

In 2021, Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States after the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law on June 17, 2021. This designation makes Juneteenth the 12th federal holiday in the United States. The holiday is observed on June 19th, or the nearest weekday if June 19th falls on a weekend.