Juneteenth: Honoring 160 Years of Freedom—and the Continued Journey Toward Justice

Juneteenth, observed every June 19,    commemorates the day in 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the last known enslaved people in the Confederacy—more than two years after President Lincoln’s 1863 decree .

The holiday has deep roots:   Texans first celebrated “Jubilee Day” on June 19, 1866, and it spread nationally over time . On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth was officially designated a federal holiday with bipartisan support—making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1986 .

It’s now a national day of observance: all federal employees have the day off, and state governments and many businesses — including banks and stock exchanges — close in honor .

Today marks the 160th anniversary, and Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day or Black Independence Day—is celebrated with parades, family gatherings, cultural programs, readings of General Order No. 3, and traditional red foods symbolizing resilience and joy .

For immigrant and diverse communities served by All About USA, Juneteenth represents not only the triumph over slavery but also the ongoing commitment to education, solidarity, and equity. Let’s honor this powerful legacy by listening to Black voices, learning from the past, and working toward a future grounded in justice for all.