Juneteenth: Commemorating Freedom and Embracing Unity

Today is Juneteenth, which was officially recognized as a Federal holiday in 2021. But there's far more to the day than just a day off on a Monday. Here's a look back at the history of Juneteenth.

After four bloody years, the Union defeated the Confederacy to win the Civil War and abolish slavery in April 1865. At that time, there were nearly 4 million slaves in the U.S. Union armies began marching through the southern states, freeing thousands of slaves each day. However, it took months for the news to reach Texas, the westernmost state in the Confederacy.

On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and 2,000 Union troops rode into Galveston, Texas, and informed the slaves of their freedom. Granger's words spread throughout Texas, and all at once, slaves found out the war was over and they were free. Their joyous spontaneous celebration gave birth to Juneteenth.

Juneteenth, a combination of the words June and 19, commemorates when the last enslaved people in the South were finally set free. Many slaves faced violence and even death when they tried to leave, but the promise of freedom extinguished fear and fueled generations of resilient people.

Former slaves gathered on Juneteenth the following year and in the years to come. Over the decades, black communities observed the holiday with festive family gatherings, colorful parades, and bountiful barbecues. Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday in 1980. Since then, 49 states and DC have also recognized the holiday.

On Thursday, President Joe Biden signed a new law commemorating June 19th as Juneteenth National Independence Day. Juneteenth is a celebration of independence, the day all Americans were truly free.