Juneteenth, short for “June Nineteenth,” commemorates the day in 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people, more than two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, it is the oldest nationally celebrated holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth became a day of celebration and reflection for African American communities, especially in Texas, where it began as local observances and pilgrimages to Galveston. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday, thanks to the efforts of civil rights leader Al Edwards. In 2021 it became designated as a federal holiday. For printable resources and videos, use this link to visit the Diversity Think Tank resources page. To learn more, please visit https://www.history.com/articles/what-is-juneteenth.