How to Celebrate and Honor Juneteenth

Juneteenth (short for “June 19”) marks the emancipation of African Americans who had been enslaved in the United States. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, announcing the end of slavery in the United States. However, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, that the news reached every enslaved American. Juneteenth was first celebrated on June 19, 1866, on the anniversary of the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, with the news that enslaved people had been freed by the declaration of the Emancipation Proclamation. The following December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment. The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth the 12th U.S. federal holiday.

The holiday received mainstream attention and gained significant momentum in the business world in the aftermath of the George Floyd tragedy two years ago. Many major corporations will give their employees paid time off to celebrate and commemorate the holiday. A growing number of federal workers and private businesses now celebrate the holiday. A 2021 Harvard Business Review workforce survey indicated that just 41% of American workers knew about Juneteenth before 2020; the racial reckoning surrounding George Floyd’s death in the summer of 2020 pushed that percentage to 71% as of May 2021.

Juneteenth has been recognized as an official holiday in the Nation’s Capital since 2004. However, it wasn’t until recently that this historically significant and culturally relevant holiday began to gain the attention we see today. Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African American holiday. It includes celebrations and activities that include block parties, festivals, cookouts, volunteerism, parades, cultural learning opportunities such as black history-centered museum exhibits, and patronizing black-owned businesses.

There is no one way to celebrate Juneteenth. However, we can pay tribute to the holiday’s true meaning with a celebration that focuses on reflection, education, and the joy of liberty and justice for all. If you are looking to learn more about the Juneteenth holiday, please visit: Juneteenth | National Museum of African American History and Culture (si.edu)