A New Federal Holiday

Juneteenth: A Day of Celebration and Remembrance

A New Federal Holiday

Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States. It is celebrated annually on June 19th to commemorate the end of slavery in the country.

Emancipation Day

Also known as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. This proclamation had been issued two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln, but news of its passage had been slow to reach many enslaved people in remote areas of the country.

The arrival of the federal troops in Galveston brought the news that slavery had been abolished to the last remaining enslaved people in the United States. This date has since been celebrated as Juneteenth, a day of both celebration and remembrance.

A Paid Holiday

In recent years, Juneteenth has gained recognition as a significant holiday. It is now a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia, Washington, and Nevada.

Whether you call it Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, or the country's second Independence Day, Juneteenth is one of the most important holidays in the African American community. It is a day to celebrate the end of slavery, to remember the struggles and sacrifices of those who fought for freedom, and to recommit ourselves to the pursuit of justice and equality for all.