Updated June 19, 2025: Juneteenth, also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, officially became a federal holiday in the United States on June 17, 2021. President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making it the 11th official federal holiday and the first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983.

What Is Juneteenth and Why Is It Celebrated?

Juneteenth marks a pivotal moment in American history—the effective end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that all enslaved people were free, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln two and a half years earlier, on January 1, 1863.

Although slavery had already been outlawed in Confederate states, enforcement in remote areas like Texas was delayed. Juneteenth, a blend of “June” and “nineteenth,” became a day of celebration and reflection for African American communities across the country.

When Did Juneteenth Become a Federal Holiday?

While Juneteenth had been recognized and celebrated locally for more than 150 years, it wasn’t until 2021 that the U.S. government granted it federal holiday status. The move came amid renewed national attention on racial justice following the Black Lives Matter protests and the murder of George Floyd in 2020. That summer, calls intensified for broader recognition of America’s racial history, prompting swift legislative action.

On June 15, 2021, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. The House approved it the next day by a vote of 415-14, and President Biden signed it into law on June 17, 2021.

The Role of Opal Lee: “Grandmother of Juneteenth”

One of the key figures in the fight to make Juneteenth a national holiday was Opal Lee, a retired teacher and long-time activist from Fort Worth, Texas. At 94 years old, she famously walked from Texas to Washington, D.C., to raise awareness and collect signatures in support of the holiday. Her lifelong dedication played a crucial role in making Juneteenth a part of the national calendar.

How Is Juneteenth Observed Today?

Juneteenth is now widely recognized across all 50 states, with parades, educational events, concerts, and community gatherings. Many businesses and federal offices close for the day, and the holiday serves as both a celebration of Black culture and a solemn reminder of the nation’s history with slavery and systemic racism.

For many Americans, Juneteenth is more than just a day off—it's a time to reflect, educate, and push forward in the ongoing fight for equity and justice.