Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 to declare the emancipation of enslaved people, but it was largely unenforced.   

Juneteenth gets its name from combining “June” and “nineteenth,” the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free. For this reason, it also represents the delayed liberation and justice due to continued systematic oppression.   

According to the Texas State Historical Association, Juneteenth celebrations historically helped newly freed Black folks learn about their voting rights. Now, celebrations commonly involve cookouts, parades, church services, musical performances and other public events. For all of us, Juneteenth allows us to listen to and center Black voices in our communities so we can understand and recognize this holiday respectfully.  

On January 1, 1980, state legislator Al Edwards signed a bill making Juneteenth an official Texas state holiday. This marked the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. In 2021, President Biden signed a bill to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Sources
https://www.juneteenth.com/history
https://www.vermontpublic.org/local-news/2021-06-17/slavery-didnt-end-on-juneteenth-what-you-should-know-about-this-important-day
https://www.themerc.coop/news/2021/6/18/celebrate-juneteenth-june-19