Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States celebrated annually on June 19. It commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S. The holiday originated on June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, which had declared all enslaved people in Confederate states free nearly two and a half years earlier. This announcement marked the effective end of slavery in Texas, the last state where enslaved people were not yet freed. The name "Juneteenth" combines the words "June" and "nineteenth," referring to this historic date. Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, it took this long for the news and enforcement to reach Texas, which was a remote Confederate state at the time. Juneteenth has been celebrated since 1866, initially with community gatherings, prayers, and singing spirituals in Texas. Over time, celebrations spread to other states and evolved to include parades, festivals, barbecues, educational events, and other communal activities that honor African American heritage, culture, and achievement. Juneteenth became a recognized state holiday first in Texas in 1980. The movement to make it a federal holiday gained momentum particularly after the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, leading to the U.S. Congress passing the bill and President Joe Biden signing it into law in June 2021, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983. The holiday is not only a celebration of African American freedom but also serves as a time for reflection on ongoing racial inequalities and the legacy of slavery in America. In summary, Juneteenth marks the day enslaved African Americans in Texas were informed of their freedom, symbolizing the end of slavery in the United States and serving as a broader celebration of African American culture and resilience. It is celebrated with various events including parades, prayers, family gatherings, and community festivals across the country. It is viewed by many as America's second Independence Day.