Juneteenth: The Celebration of Freedom Delayed but Not Denied

On June 19th, smoke from barbecue pits will rise across the country, parades will fill the streets, and the red, black, and green flags will fly high. Juneteenth (a portmanteau of "June" and "Nineteenth") is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

What is Juneteenth?

While the Emancipation Proclamation was signed on January 1, 1863, it could not be enforced in Confederate-controlled areas. It wasn't until June 19, 1865—two and a half years later—that Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the war had ended and the enslaved were free.

For over a century, this day was celebrated primarily within Black communities as "Jubilee Day" or "Freedom Day." In 2021, it was finally signed into law as a US Federal Holiday, recognizing that American freedom was not complete until all people were free.

When is it?

It is celebrated annually on June 19.

• In 2026: It falls on a Friday, creating a federal long weekend for the first time in several years.

How is it Typically Celebrated?

Juneteenth is a joyous, community-centric holiday that blends education with celebration:

1. The "Red" Feast Walk into a Juneteenth cookout, and you will see the color red everywhere.

• Red Drink: Strawberry soda, hibiscus tea (sorrel), or red punch are staples.

• Red Food: Watermelon, red velvet cake, and sausages are traditional.

• Symbolism: The red symbolizes the resilience and ingenuity of the enslaved people, as well as a link to West African traditions where red is a symbol of strength and spirituality.

2. Supporting Black Economics A modern focus of the holiday is the intentional support of Black-owned businesses. Many people use the day to shop specifically at Black-owned bookstores, restaurants, and shops as a way to close the racial wealth gap.

3. "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Known as the "Black National Anthem," this song is sung at the opening of parades, church services, and festivals. It is a day for readings of the Emancipation Proclamation and works by African American authors like Maya Angelou and Ralph Ellison.

4. Rodeos and Miss Juneteenth In Texas and the Southwest, Juneteenth has a strong cowboy culture. Black rodeos are common, as are "Miss Juneteenth" pageants, which focus on scholarship and history rather than just beauty.

Juneteenth is a day to look back at the delay of justice, but also to look forward at the endurance of joy.