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Juneteenth is America’s newest federal holiday, first celebrated nationwide in 2021, but the history of the holiday goes back more than 100 years. Let’s get the facts. June 19th marks the day that 2000 Union troops marched into Galveston, Texas, telling the last group of enslaved black people that they’d been freed. It was two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The first official celebrations marking what was then called Jubilee Day were held 1 year later across Texas. Originally activities included parades and public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Over the years, those. Celebrations spread. The date June 19th, eventually combining to create *** new name Juneteenth, expanding the church services, full festivals, marches, community gatherings, picnics, and days of action with *** flag to mark the occasion. By 2019, all but 4 states had passed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as *** holiday or observance, but the movement to make it *** federal holiday didn’t get national attention until 2020 when George Floyd. Murder and the Black Lives Matter movement opened conversations about the legacy of racism in the United States. This is *** day of profound, in my view, profound weight and profound power. In 2021, after being passed by the House and Senate, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making it *** federal holiday. Now all 50 states recognize Juneteenth with celebrations all across the nation, helping you get the facts, I’m Amy Lou.
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While relatively new on the national stage, the Juneteenth holiday has been celebrated in African-American communities for more than 150 years. On June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, 2,000 Union troops marched into Galveston, Texas, to inform the last group of enslaved Black people that they had been freed.The first official celebrations, initially called “Jubilee Day” celebrations, took place a year later across Texas, featuring parades and public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Over time, these celebrations spread, and the date’s name evolved into “Juneteenth,” expanding to include church services, festivals, marches, community gatherings, picnics, and days of action. In 1997, the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation designed a flag to bring attention to the holiday.By 2019, all but four states – Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Hawaii – had passed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday or observance. The movement to make it a federal holiday gained national attention in 2020, following George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing “Black Lives Matter” movement, which sparked conversations about the legacy of racism in the United States.In 2021, the Senate and House passed S. 475 and H.R. 1320, which sent the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to then-President Joe Biden’s desk. Now, all 50 states recognize Juneteenth, with celebrations occurring across the nation.
While relatively new on the national stage, the Juneteenth holiday has been celebrated in African-American communities for more than 150 years.
On June 19, 1865, two months after the end of the Civil War and two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, 2,000 Union troops marched into Galveston, Texas, to inform the last group of enslaved Black people that they had been freed.
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The first official celebrations, initially called “Jubilee Day” celebrations, took place a year later across Texas, featuring parades and public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation. Over time, these celebrations spread, and the date’s name evolved into “Juneteenth,” expanding to include church services, festivals, marches, community gatherings, picnics, and days of action. In 1997, the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation designed a flag to bring attention to the holiday.
By 2019, all but four states – Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Hawaii – had passed legislation recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday or observance. The movement to make it a federal holiday gained national attention in 2020, following George Floyd’s murder and the ensuing “Black Lives Matter” movement, which sparked conversations about the legacy of racism in the United States.
In 2021, the Senate and House passed S. 475 and H.R. 1320, which sent the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act to then-President Joe Biden’s desk. Now, all 50 states recognize Juneteenth, with celebrations occurring across the nation.
