Juneteenth 2023: Everything You Need to Know About Juneteenth

For 158 years now, the Black community has celebrated Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery — which, for millions of enslaved people, was actually two-and-a-half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

The holiday, also known as Black Independence Day, hasn't been widely taught in schools. However, on June 18, 2021, it was declared a federal holiday after President Joe Biden signed a bill passed by both the House and Senate, making it so. Here are some things to know about the nation's most recent federal holiday.

What Is Juneteenth?

The longest-running African-American holiday in the United States, Juneteenth is short for June Nineteenth and marks the day that slavery ended in America.

The Emancipation Proclamation, which abolished slavery, was issued by Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, but it took until mid-June 1865 for the last enslaved people to be freed. That's because the proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control, but people in Confederate states weren't the only ones who enslaved people of African descent: Border states and rebel territories continued to keep enslaved people, too. As a result, Texas became a hotspot for enslavers who fled their states with the people they were enslaving.

On June 19, 1865, federal troops, led by Gen. Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, and took control of the state, marking the official end of slavery as the state's 250,000 enslaved people were freed.

The year 2023 marks the 158th anniversary of their freedom.

Was Juneteenth the End of Slavery?

Although General Granger announced that all enslaved people were to be freed, enslavers and plantation owners were left to announce the news. They often waited until after the harvest season or until a government official came to enforce the proclamation themselves.

Because the Emancipation Proclamation did not apply to states in the Union, remaining enslaved people were not liberated until the 13th Amendment was ratified on Dec. 18, 1865.

Even after the ratification of the 13th Amendment, Black people were often forced into other forms of servitude and new types of enslavement.

When Was the First Juneteenth Celebration?

In 1866, the first Juneteenth was celebrated in Texas and was known as "Freedom Day" and then "Jubilee Day."

It included prayer services, barbecues, music and celebrations that eventually spread across the country as newly freed Black people moved throughout the nation.

Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?

Now it is — though it's been a long road to get here. Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday in 1979. Today, all 50 states and Washington, D.C., recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or day of observance, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In June 2021, the Senate and the House swiftly passed legislation establishing the day as a national, federal holiday. President Joe Biden signed the bill into law on June 18, 2021.

"I have to say to you, I have only been president for several months, but I think this will go down, for me, as one of the greatest honors I will have as president," Biden said, "not because I did it, you did it, Democrats and Republicans."

"It's an enormous, enormous honor," he added.

"For too long, we have tried to whitewash our nation's history instead of confronting the uncomfortable and painful truth," said Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) of S.475, per WITI. "This legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday is but one step we can take to begin to right the wrongs of the past and ensure equal justice in the future."

What Is the Official Flag for Juneteenth?

The Juneteenth flag was designed by Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, with the help of illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf. In 2000, the flag was adapted to look the way it does today, and in 2007, the Juneteenth date, "June 19, 1865," was added.

• The white star represents Texas, specifically Galveston, where Union soldiers told the last remaining enslaved people that they were free. But beyond Texas, the star represents the freedom of Black people in every state.
• The burst around the center star symbolizes a nova (or new star), representing new beginnings for Black Americans.
• The curve running through the flag's center represents new horizons and opportunities for Black Americans.
• The flag's colors (red, white and blue) communicate that the enslaved people freed in Texas —and all of their future descendants — were American citizens.

In 2022, Haith reflected on the significance of the flag as he spoke to Capital B, a Black-led, nonprofit news organization covering Black communities nationwide.

"I believe we represent our ancestors," Haith said. "When we celebrate, we're celebrating for them, and we're celebrating for the future of our people. The flag represents the people of the past, it represents us and it will represent the people in the future."

How Can I Celebrate Juneteenth?

Events are happening across the country. Here are some ways you can celebrate Juneteenth:

• Frequent or donate to a small, Black-owned business.
• Attend a virtual gathering, whether it's a Zoom celebration hosted by a museum, a local library, or a virtual shopping event to support Black-owned businesses.
• Research Juneteenth events in your area. Many cities and towns host free community festivities like parades, panels, exhibitions and concerts to celebrate the holiday.
• If the weather's nice, have an outdoor gathering with friends or family and take time to review the history of Juneteenth and its significance.
• If the weather's not so nice, get a group together to watch a documentary. PBS.org offers a wide streaming selection of free episodes, specials and films about Juneteenth and Black history.
• CNN and OWN will air Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom at 8 p.m. ET. This live concert from the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles features artists including Miguel, Davido, Jodeci and more.
• Donate to causes that help fight racial injustice like Campaign Zero (works to end police brutality in America through research-proven strategies), ColorofChange.org (works to make the government more responsive to racial disparities) and National Cares Mentoring Movement (provides social and academic support to help Black youth succeed in college and beyond).