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When Did Juneteenth Start? A Look Back at the History of the Holiday
GALVESTON, TEXAS, JUN 19 – Union General Gordon Granger enforced the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas, freeing about 250,000 enslaved people more than two years after it was signed, marking Juneteenth's origin.
- On June 19, 1865, Union forces led by Major General Gordon Granger reached Galveston, Texas, to announce the emancipation of enslaved individuals in the state.
- This event followed the 1863 Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln, which declared all slaves in Confederate states free but was not enforced in Texas until 1865.
- Juneteenth originated as a local celebration in Texas and developed into a long-standing tradition marked by prayer, speeches, and festivals nationwide over more than 150 years.
- President Joe Biden signed legislation on June 16, 2021, making Juneteenth the first new federal holiday since 1983, recognizing it as an acknowledgment of the nation's history and Black resilience.
- Juneteenth's federal recognition highlights ongoing dialogues about slavery's legacy and racial justice while the day continues to celebrate emancipation and African American progress.
13 Articles
13 Articles
When did Juneteenth start? A look back at the history of the holiday
The hard-won freedom of enslaved people and the enduring progress of the African American community will be celebrated across the nation on Juneteenth – the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery.
The meaning and history behind Juneteenth
Thursday, June 19, 2025, marks the fifth year that the holiday known as Juneteenth is celebrated nationwide. President Joe Biden made the federal holiday official when he signed the Juneteenth National Independence Act into law on June 17, 2021.
Celebrating Juneteenth across San Diego County
Americans will celebrate Juneteenth on Thursday, marking the day when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. For generations, Black Americans have recognized the end of one of the darkest chapters in U.S. history with joy, in the form of parades, street festivals, musical performances or cookouts. The U.S. government was slow to embrace the occasion — it was only in 2021 that President Joe Biden signed a bill passe…
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