Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day, Black Independence Day, and Emancipation Day, is a federal holiday in the United States honouring the emancipation of African American slaves. It’s also a day dedicated to honouring African-American culture. It began in Galveston, Texas, and has been observed annually on June 19 in various parts of the world.
Since 1866, it has been celebrated annually on June 19 in many parts of the United States, with its origins in Galveston, Texas. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law on June 17, 2021, making the day a nationwide holiday. The celebration of Juneteenth takes place on the anniversary of the Union Army’s announcement of General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865.
The date of Juneteenth observance marks the anniversary of Union Army General Gordon Granger’s announcement of General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865, proclaiming liberation for slaves in Texas.
New York Municipal formally recognised Juneteenth in 2020 (as an annual official city holiday and public school holiday beginning in 2021), though it will be honoured as a school holiday on June 20 in 2022.
Lectures and exhibitions on African-American culture are frequently featured at Juneteenth festivities. Teaching about African-American heritage is a big part of the modern holiday. “Community leaders have seized on to [Juneteenth] to help inculcate a feeling of heritage and pride in black youngsters,” Karen M. Thomas wrote in Emerge.
Voter registration drives, play performances, and storey recounting are all typical additions to celebrations. Soul food and other foods with African-American influences are also celebrated on this day. “Barbecue is the highlight of most Juneteenth festivities,” Anne Donovan and Karen DeBres wrote in Tourism Review International.