What Is Juneteenth? Everything You Need To Know About America’s Newest National Holiday

Topline

Juneteenth, the American holiday to celebrate the end of enslavement in the United States—and the latest federal holiday—will likely go into full-scale celebrations this year with the coronavirus no longer a national emergency and tamping down on public events.

Key Facts

When Is Juneteenth—and What Is It?

Juneteenth (a combination of June and 19) is celebrated on June 19 and, because the holiday falls on a Monday this year, that is when it will be observed.

Only after nearly three years after former President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Texans finally received news of the end of the Civil War and the abolishment of enslavement on June 19, 1865, sparking what is now celebrated as Juneteenth.

After Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s surrender in April 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, in June to read General Order No. 3, which declared enslaved people’s freedom, according to Juneteenth.com.

According to the Library of Congress, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation and ending of enslavement as a military strategy to encourage enslaved people in Confederate states to support Union troops—who were now accepting Black men—during the American Civil War.

When Did Juneteenth Start?

Juneteenth celebrations among African Americans in Galveston stretch as far back as 1866 with prayer gatherings and food.

Over 100 years later, Texas House Bill 1016 declared Juneteenth as “Emancipation Day,” making it the only state to recognize Juneteenth and slate it as a paid day off for state employees until President Biden’s 2021 measure.

When Did Juneteenth Become A Federal Holiday?

President Joe Biden proclaimed Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021, a year after major protests against police brutality following the death of George Floyd and when a push for the holiday’s recognition began. But the celebrations began long ago.

How Is Juneteenth Celebrated?

• ATLANTA: The 11th annual Juneteenth Atlanta Parade and Music Festival featuring live music, food and business vendors will be held from June 16-18.
• BROOKLYN, NEW YORK: The 14th annual Juneteenth NYC consists of a virtual summit, an awards ceremony honoring 28 men in the city who have positively impacted the community, a festival, concert, parade and fashion show for its three-day Juneteenth celebration from June 16-18.
• HOUSTON/GALVESTON: The birthplace of Juneteenth is celebrating the new federal holiday with the parade, the picnic, a scholarship gala, a business summit for minority women, a lecture series and banquet, among other activities.
• NEW ORLEANS: In its historic Treme neighborhood, the city of New Orleans is commemorating Juneteenth with a festival and freedom gala.
• PHILADELPHIA: Juneteenth in Philadelphia is a week-long celebration with the Miss Juneteenth pageant on June 10, breakfast on June 16 and a parade, pop-up shop, carnival and music festival on June 18.

What States Don’t Celebrate Juneteenth?

Even though it’s a federal holiday, some states still don’t recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. According to Pew Research, in the following 26 states, state employees don’t receive the day off:

• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Florida
• Hawaii
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Vermont
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

FURTHER READINGS

America’s Best Employers For Diversity 2023 Methodology: How We Crunch The Numbers (Forbes)

Why You Should Not Set DEI Targets Based on Diversity Alone (Forbes)