JUNETEENTH: Home

Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Union General Gordon Granger read aloud “General Order #3″ which stated in pertinent part, “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”  The news came almost two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863.  News of the Proclamation had not reached slaves in most of Texas until 1865. Spontaneous celebrations broke out as the news spread, which led to annual celebrations to commemorate the day.  As some African Americans migrated from Texas, and moved to other states to find relatives, they took Juneteenth celebrations with them, and these celebrations have since spread throughout the United States.  Library of Congress blog: Juneteenth  

Juneteenth celebrations include parades, pageants and concerts. Today, there has been renewed interest in Juneteenth celebrations, especially given the social unrest of the past few years.  As America tries to reckon with its past,  the Juneteenth holiday resonates in new ways.

Spectators watch a Juneteenth Parade commemorating the end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 2021 in Galveston, Texas.  GO NAKAMURA / GETTY IMAGES

In 2021 the U.S. Senate passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, S. 475, and President Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.