Juneteenth is a federally recognized holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, many enslaved people in Texas finally learned that the Civil War had ended and that they were emancipated from slavery. The term Juneteenth combines "June" and "nineteenth" into one word.
In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making Juneteenth an official U.S. federal holiday. In his proclamation speech, President Biden remarked, “On Juneteenth, we recommit ourselves to the work of equity, equality, and justice.”
It’s the first new holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was enacted by President Ronald Reagan in 1983 and became the 12th federal holiday recognized by the U.S. government.
Opal Lee, a retired teacher and activist, drove the efforts to make Juneteenth a federal holiday; Lee campaigned for decades, saying, "It's going to be a national holiday, I have no doubt about it. My point is let's make it a holiday in my lifetime." At the age of 94, her efforts succeeded, and as she sat in the front row in the East Room of the White House, she received a standing ovation from those in attendance.
The road to Juneteenth was a long one. In 1861, the newly elected President Abraham Lincoln didn’t seek to abolish slavery, but grew concerned with the spread of slavery to the American West.
As the U.S. continued westward expansion, control shifted between the anti-slavery Northern states and the South, and the Southern states feared they could permanently lose their power. Ultimately, the South’s commitment to exploiting slave labor led to civil war.
In the midst of the conflict, on January 1, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring, “I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free."
The American Civil War continued for two more years until General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union Army’s General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia on April 9, 1865. The news of this development took time to reach everyone, particularly in Texas, which was the westernmost state, and the last Confederate slave-owning stronghold.
On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger marched 2,000 federal soldiers of the 13th Army Corps to the port of Galveston, Texas, and delivered General Order No. 3, "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."
The Civil War and slavery were finally over, and the ongoing project of a more perfect union has been underway ever since. For more information on Juneteenth, explore the Topic Page in the Gale in Context: U.S. History database. You may be prompted to enter your library card details.
Today, we have many ways to celebrate Juneteenth.
1. Attend a Local Juneteenth Event
Canton celebrates Juneteenth at Liberty Fest. Check the Liberty Fest webpage for up-to-date information.
Downtown Ypsilanti will host a Juneteenth Celebration from June 20-21, 2026, featuring the theme “Juneteenth Rising: Liberation Through Unity.” Check the Facebook event page for details.
2. Visit the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
The museum’s mission is to celebrate and honor African American history and culture. Check their website for programming details.
3. Make a Recipe in Honor of African American Cuisine
American Soul by Anela Malik – This narrative reveals the rich, indelible, and often unrecognized contributions of Black culture to American cuisine.
Cooking up Change by Michael Platt – With biographies of figures who shaped important events and mouthwatering recipes that carry their essence, this book will inspire future leaders with real stories of trailblazers who changed the world.
Watermelon & Red Birds by Nicole Taylor – The very first cookbook to celebrate Juneteenth, from food writer and cookbook author Nicole A. Taylor—who draws on her decade of experiences observing the holiday.
4. Read Books and Watch Movies about Juneteenth
Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen by George McCalman – A collection of original portraits depicting Black heroes who made their mark on activism, science, politics, business, medicine, technology, food, arts, entertainment and more. Each entry includes lush artwork by artist George McCalman, along with an insightful essay.
General Gordon Granger by Robert C. Connor – This long-overdue biography sheds fascinating new light on a colorful commander who fought through the Civil War in the West from its first major battles to its last, and left his impact on the Reconstruction that followed.
Juneteenth: A Novel by Ralph Ellison – Shot on the Senate floor by a young Black man, a dying racist senator summons an elderly Black Baptist minister from Oklahoma to his side for a remarkable dialogue that reveals the deeply buried secrets of their shared past and the tragedy that reunites them.
Juneteenth: The Story Behind the Celebration by Edward T. Cotham – Using decades of research in archives around the nation, this book separates myth from reality and tells the story behind the celebration in a way that provides new understanding and appreciation for the event.
On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed – The essential, sweeping story of Juneteenth's integral importance to American history, as told by a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and Texas native.
Miss Juneteenth – Turquoise Jones is a single mom who juggles a household, a rebellious teenager, and a job. She's also a bona fide beauty queen—once crowned the winner of the "Miss Juneteenth" pageant. Life didn't turn out as beautifully as the title promised, but Turquoise is preparing her daughter, Kai, to become Miss Juneteenth, even if Kai wants something else.
Add a comment to: Juneteenth: History and Celebration