Juneteenth is an American holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It is observed on June 19th each year and marks the anniversary of the announcement made on June 19, 1865, by Union General Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas, that all enslaved people in Texas were free. This announcement came over two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate states.
Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom, culture, and achievements and serves as a time for reflection on the ongoing struggle for racial justice. It was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States in June 2021.