Juneteenth
Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated annually around the United States on June 19th. The holiday commemorates the day in 1865 when a Union General arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed the enslaved African Americans that the Confederacy had lost the war and that they were free as per the Emancipation Proclamation.
Although Juneteenth is not a federal holiday, it is recognized as a state holiday in Texas and a number of other states. The holiday is typically celebrated with parades, picnics, and other community events that celebrate African American culture and history.
Is Juneteenth a Federal Holiday?
Despite being recognized as a state holiday in several states, Juneteenth is not currently recognized as a federal holiday in the United States. However, there is growing support for making Juneteenth a national holiday, with several lawmakers introducing legislation to make it so.
Proponents of making Juneteenth a federal holiday argue that it would help to recognize and celebrate the contributions of African Americans to American history and culture. They also argue that it would help to promote unity and understanding between different racial and ethnic groups in the United States.