Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom and Liberation
Juneteenth: A Federal Holiday
WEB Juneteenth National Independence Day is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States.
Legislation and Proclamation
Legislation establishing the holiday was passed by Congress on June 16, 2021, and signed into law by President Biden. Juneteenth is now a permanent federal holiday, observed on the third Monday of June.
Origins of Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a shortened form of June Nineteenth, which refers to the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, which proclaimed that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This order came more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued by President Lincoln, but it was not until June 19, 1865, that the news of freedom reached enslaved people in Texas.
A Day of Celebration and Remembrance
Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the end of slavery and the freedom of African Americans in the United States. It is a day to reflect on the history of racial oppression and to recommit to the fight for racial justice.
Juneteenth is also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, and Emancipation Day. It is a day of music, food, and cultural events that brings communities together to celebrate their heritage and resilience.
Significance for the Nation
Juneteenth is America's second Independence Day, a day that marks the end of slavery and the beginning of a new era of freedom and equality for all Americans. It is a day that should be celebrated by all Americans, regardless of their race or background.
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