Juneteenth Celebrates End of Slavery in United States

Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, Black Independence Day, and, by statute, Juneteenth National Independence Day.

According to the Congressional Research Service, on June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery.

Although the Emancipation Proclamation came 2½ years earlier on Jan. 1, 1863, many enslavers continued to hold enslaved Black people captive after the announcement. Juneteenth became a symbolic date representing African-American freedom.

Texans celebrated Juneteenth beginning in 1866 with community-centric events, such as parades, cookouts, prayer gatherings, historical and cultural readings, and musical performances.

Juneteenth celebrations often included speeches to inspire and educate attendees about political action, like voting.

Over time, communities have developed their own traditions.