By now you are probably aware that we all get Monday off for Juneteenth, but you might still be asking yourself, what is the significance of the day and how did it come to be an official holiday?

Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, or Emancipation Day, is an annual holiday celebrated in the United States on June 19th. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and marks the day when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, to announce the end of slavery.

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that all slaves in Confederate territory were to be set free. However, due to the ongoing Civil War and the lack of Union presence in certain areas, the proclamation was not immediately enforced in some regions, including Texas.

It was not until June 19, 1865, that Major General Gordon Granger and Union troops arrived in Galveston and officially proclaimed the freedom of the approximately 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas. This day came to be known as Juneteenth, a combination of “June” and “nineteenth.”

Juneteenth represents a significant milestone in the fight for freedom and equality in the United States. It symbolizes the end of slavery and the beginning of a new era of liberation for African Americans. The holiday is often marked by various celebrations, including parades, picnics, historical reenactments, music, dancing, and educational events that highlight African American culture, achievements, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice. In recent years, there have been increased efforts to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday, which was achieved in the United States on June 17, 2021, when it was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Happy Juneteenth, Chargers!