Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated annually on June 19th to honor the official end of slavery in the United States. The name “Juneteenth” is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” referring to June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger issued an order in Galveston, Texas, declaring that all enslaved African Americans were to be freed, as outlined in the Emancipation Proclamation following the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln announced his executive order to end the practice of slavery in all states on September 22, 1862. This proclamation promised freedom to all enslaved individuals, including those in the rebellious Confederate states in the southern part of the United States. The enforcement of this decree relied on the advancement of Union soldiers into these areas, although this progress was slow. Union General Gordon Granger’s order to end slavery in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, occurred 900 days after Lincoln’s proclamation and 71 days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender.

Juneteenth celebrations have occurred for many years, but the holiday was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. The increased awareness of systemic racism and inequality during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests helped to garner bipartisan support in Congress, highlighting the significance of these issues. Today, the United States observes this occasion as “Freedom Day,” “Jubilee Day,” or “Juneteenth.” Citizens are encouraged to spend the day reflecting on the history of slavery and the ongoing struggle for equality for all people in the United States.