Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863.

Texas was the most remote of the Confederate states, and many enslavers had moved there to escape the reach of Union forces. As a result, over 250,000 enslaved African Americans remained in bondage until Granger’s arrival and the enforcement of General Order No. 3, which declared “an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves”.

The following year, freed people in Texas began celebrating what they called “Jubilee Day”, which evolved into Juneteenth. Over time, the tradition spread across the U.S., especially during the Great Migration, and became a symbol of Black freedom, resilience, and cultural pride.

Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, though it had been celebrated in African American communities for over 150 years. Today, it’s not just a commemoration of emancipation—it’s a celebration of Black culture, achievement, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

Would you like to explore how Juneteenth is celebrated in NYC or how it connects to other emancipation days across the U.S.?