Juneteenth National Independence Day

Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, announcing the end of the Civil War and the freedom of all enslaved people—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and read General Order No. 3, announcing the end of slavery in Texas. This was more than two years after President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. Texas was the most remote of the slave states, and enforcement of the proclamation had been minimal there. The first Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866 in Texas. In 2021, President Biden signed legislation making Juneteenth the 11th federal holiday, the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

Juneteenth celebrations include festivals, parades, and community gatherings. Traditional foods feature red foods and drinks like red velvet cake, strawberry soda, and barbecue, symbolizing the resilience and sacrifice of enslaved people. Many communities host readings of the Emancipation Proclamation and educational events about African American history. Church services, music performances, and cultural exhibitions are common. The day is also marked by reflection on the ongoing struggle for racial equality.