On June 19, the country celebrates Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the day the Emancipation Proclamation reached the last people still enslaved in Texas in 1865.
The holiday is celebrated with block parties, cookouts, and educational, art, and music events.
The outcry of racial justice in the past year supported largely by the Black Lives Matter movement after the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and other Black Americans has changed the significance of the holiday this year.
Photo by Michael Noble Jr./Getty Images
The protest movement has sparked an increased dialogue around systemic racism and police brutality. Companies including Nike, Twitter, and Uber are celebrating the holiday by giving employees paid days off, USA Today reports.
Here's what you need to know about Juneteenth and the celebrations taking place this year.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth celebrates the anniversary date of the June 19, 1865 announcement by Union Army general Gordon Granger proclaiming freedom from slavery in Texas.
Although Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation officially outlawed slavery in Texas and other states that rebelled against the Union nearly two and a half years earlier, it could not be enforced in places still under Confederate control.
It took more than two years for approximately 250,000 Texan slaves to learn their freedom had been secured by the government. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced.
More than 150 years later, 48 states and the District of Columbia officially recognize Juneteenth as a statewide holiday. South Dakota has yet to recognize Juneteenth. Although it is not considered a federal holiday, the day has been celebrated by Black Americans since the late 1800s.
What is the Juneteenth Flag?
The original Juneteenth flag was created in 1997 by Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. The red and blue colors were deliberately chosen to symbolize unity between Black Americans and the United States.
The white outlined star in the middle of the flag is another call to the United States flag, and the arc represents the new horizon and opportunities for Black communities, according to the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation.
What celebrations are taking place?
Across the country, people are celebrating Juneteenth with celebrations, community gatherings, music, and powerful tributes to Black leaders of the past and present.
New York recently announced its annual Juneteenth 3-day summit, which features talent show performers, a health and wellness screening center, education activities for children and much more. In 2019, 5,000 people attended in person and 20,000 people attended virtually in 2020.
Washington, D.C. is celebrating with The Freedom Festival hosted by The Juneteenth Foundation. The seven-day festival features Juneteenth Reflection Panels that will focus on corporate initiatives in the Black community as well as criminal justice reform, equity, and education. The celebration also features a Career Panel and Fair and a Juneteenth Freedom Concert.
The Smithsonian Museum of African American Culture and History in Washington D.C. will also hold presentations on the history and significance of Juneteenth and stories that celebrate Black leaders throughout history.
How to celebrate Juneteenth at home
There are many ways to celebrate the holiday right from home. In addition to donating to organizations, you can support Black-owned businesses, listen to Black artists, or read books written by Black poets and authors to contribute to the conversation of race and equality.
Listen to empowering podcasts on Audacy like "Black History Year" and "The Nod" to hear powerful Black stories.
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