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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.
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NBC New York broke the news in New York, United States on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
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