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Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States

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Americans will observe Juneteenth on Friday, a federal holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States and honors the long struggle for freedom and civil rights.

Often called the nation’s “second Independence Day,” Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that more than 250,000 enslaved people in the state were free. The announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863.

The roots of Juneteenth trace back to “Freedom’s Eve” on Dec. 31, 1862, when enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and homes awaiting news that Lincoln’s proclamation would take effect at midnight. While the proclamation declared enslaved people in Confederate states legally free, enforcement depended on Union military control. As a result, many enslaved people in remote areas of the South remained in bondage until Union forces arrived.

Texas, the westernmost Confederate state, became one of the last places where emancipation was enforced. The arrival of Union soldiers in Galveston on June 19, 1865, transformed the date into a lasting symbol of freedom and hope.

The end of slavery nationwide was later secured through ratification of the 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Juneteenth celebrations began among newly freed African Americans in Texas and gradually spread across the country. For generations, the observance included family gatherings, community events, educational programs, religious services, and celebrations of African American culture and achievement.

The holiday also serves as a reminder of the Reconstruction era that followed the Civil War. During that period, formerly enslaved people sought to reunite families, establish schools, participate in government, and build new lives despite significant challenges and resistance.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, making it the first new federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

As a federal holiday, many government offices and services will be closed on Friday. Federal offices, post offices, federal courts, and most banks will not operate. U.S. financial markets, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, will also be closed. Many state and local government offices will observe the holiday as well, although schedules vary by location.

Source: Smithsonian

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