When Was Juneteenth First Celebrated?<\/b><\/p>\n
Juneteenth<\/span><\/a> celebrates African American freedom from slavery in the U.S., and is the oldest holiday celebrating Emancipation in the country. The holiday honors June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas and announced the end of the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery. The arrival of Union troops marked the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation which had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln 2 \u00bd years prior in 1863, but had not been enacted in Texas (<\/span>Juneteenth.com<\/span><\/a>). <\/span><\/p>\n Over the years, the holiday celebrating African American freedom grew in Texas and nationally. It became an official state holiday in Texas in 1980. According to Henry Louis Gates, Jr.\u2019s article<\/span> What is Juneteenth?<\/span><\/a>, since 1980 over 40 states and Washington, D.C. now observe Juneteenth as a state holiday or with holiday observance. Though Juneteenth has a long history and has grown over the years, this <\/span>Smithsonian blog post<\/span><\/a> explains that many Americans were not aware of it. Today the holiday\u2019s history and significance is becoming more widely known. This year New York, Virginia, and others have made plans to recognize it as a holiday. This <\/span>June 16, 2020 article from the New York Times<\/span><\/a> highlights the importance of Juneteenth in light of the murder of George Floyd and recent national protests calling for change.<\/span><\/p>\n According to<\/span> Juneteenth.com<\/span><\/a>, the holiday celebrating African American freedom has included family gatherings, sports, food, games, and more. Though this year (June 2020) communities may be remaining careful due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we hope you enjoy celebrating this significant holiday and encourage you to learn more about Juneteenth. <\/span><\/p>\n Learn More With These Online Resources:<\/b><\/p>\n\n