The History Behind Juneteenth, and Why It Became a Federal Holiday

This Friday, June 19, federal offices will be closed in observance of Juneteenth. While many people know the holiday is connected to the end of slavery, the full story behind the date, and how it became the newest federal holiday, is less widely known.

Why June 19th

Juneteenth marks the day Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people in the state were free. The order came more than two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, and the delay in Texas was largely due to the lack of Union enforcement in the state until Granger’s arrival. More than 250,000 enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom through the order, making June 19 a defining moment in the nation’s journey toward emancipation. While Juneteenth is often associated with the end of slavery in the United States, it specifically commemorates the day emancipation was finally enforced in Texas.

Early Celebrations Took Root Quickly

Word of the order spread, and celebrations began almost immediately, first in Texas and then in neighboring states, including Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. These early gatherings often included religious services, storytelling, music, and large communal meals. One common tradition involved formerly enslaved people putting on new clothing as a symbolic break from the past.

A Long Road to National Recognition

Despite its significance, Juneteenth remained largely a regional observance for well over a century. Texas became the first state to recognize it as an official holiday in 1980. One of the most important figures in the push for national recognition was Opal Lee, a Texas educator and activist who, starting in her 90s, walked 1,400 miles from Fort Worth to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness and gather support. Her efforts, combined with renewed national attention in 2020, helped lead Congress to pass the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, which President Biden signed into law on June 17, 2021, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.

A Day for Reflection and Celebration

Today, Juneteenth is observed across the country with cookouts, music, parades, and educational events that honor both the history of emancipation and the culture and resilience that followed it.

With federal offices closed this Friday, many employees will be heading into a long weekend. Whatever your plans, enjoy the extra day off.