Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated annually on June 19. It commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., specifically marking June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the last enslaved African Americans in the country
. The holiday's name is a portmanteau of "June" and "nineteenth," reflecting the date of this historic event
. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it took over two years for the news to reach Texas, making Juneteenth the symbolic day when freedom was truly realized for many enslaved people
. Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, starting with prayer meetings and singing spirituals, and has evolved into a day of festivals, parades, church services, educational events, family gatherings, and cultural celebrations honoring African American history and progress
. It became a state holiday in Texas in 1980 and was recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, following advocacy efforts including those by activist Opal Lee
. The holiday is significant not only as a celebration of emancipation but also as a reminder of the ongoing struggle against racial inequality and the legacy of slavery in the United States
. It is often referred to by other names such as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Black Independence Day
. In summary, Juneteenth is a day that honors the emancipation of enslaved African Americans, celebrates African American culture and achievements, and serves as a call to reflect on freedom and equality in the United States.
