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Juneteenth

Is a federal holiday that commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation

The purpose of this guide is to inform all on the national holiday of Juneteenth celebrated annually on

June 19th.

About

The holiday known as Juneteenth, so called because it is celebrated annually on June 19, is the oldest commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. Recognized as Emancipation Day among African Americans, it marks the anniversary of the official freeing of slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865, in Galveston. Just as the Fourth of July celebrates liberty for all American people, for descendants of former slaves, Juneteenth symbolizes the attainment of freedom. Honoring the legacy of struggle and perseverance on the part of African Americans throughout their enslavement, Juneteenth also serves as a day of reflection on African American progress. - Encyclopedia of Emancipation and Abolition in the Transatlantic World,

Juneteenth - National Geographic

Juneteenth a National Holiday

‘We must learn from our history,’ says VP Kamala Harris as Juneteenth becomes national holiday

Significance of Juneteenth

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The significance of Juneteenth, America's first new federal holiday in decades

Significance and History of Juneteenth

Henry Louis Gates Jr. told CBS News that marking Juneteenth as a federal holiday was a long time coming.

Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee

 

Opal Lee, known in Fort Worth as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth", is a 94-year-old trailblazer on a mission to generate greater recognition for Juneteenth across the United States. Opal has dedicated her life to educating others about the history of Juneteenth, while also encouraging them to celebrate this historic holiday each year. The Emancipation Proclamation outlawed slavery on September 22, 1862, but slaves in Texas did not know that they had been freed. So, Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19th, 1865, when General Gordon Granger and 7,000 black troops journeyed to tell 250,000 black enslaved people in Galveston, TX that they were free. Opal Lee leads a 2.5-mile march from Downtown Fort Worth, TX to signify the remaining length of time that these slaves in Texas were left in bondage. Today, Juneteenth symbolizes freedom, and it is a call to action for unity. Therefore, Opal Lee is currently advocating for Juneteenth’s consideration as a paid federal holiday! Learn more about this historic day, and how Opal Lee encourages others to work together to eradicate the racial disparity experienced in this country.

"None of us are free until we are all free, and freedom is what we still have to work towards." - Opal Lee

Biden & Juneteenth 2023

President Biden Hosts a Juneteenth Concert on the South Lawn