Juneteenth is only the second Federal Holiday in Black history of the United States to honor an African American or African American culture. Kwanzaa is an African American cultural holiday celebrating African family, community, tradition, and culture; however, it’s not a Federal Holiday.
Though most Texans were aware of Juneteenth, the vast majority of African Americans weren’t aware of the holiday. Enslavement of Black people in the United States technically ended on September 22, 1862, with Abraham Lincoln’s signing of the Emancipation Proclamation; those in Texas had to wait more than 2 ½ years to receive their freedom. It wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Blacks in Texas received their freedom. That’s when the Union Army arrived in Galveston, ordering the ending of enslavement in the Lone Star State.
Since then, Black Americans have celebrated that day as Juneteenth Independence Day. On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth officially became a Texas state holiday, following the passing of H.B. 1016. It would take another 42 years for the Federal Government to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday.
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