What Is Juneteenth? Here’s Why We Honor the Federal Holiday

A key American historical event finally received federal recognition in recent years: June 19, 1865—the day all people living in the United States, including the formerly enslaved, were officially granted freedom. On June 17, 2021, President Joe Biden signed a bill into law making the day known as Juneteenth a national holiday. Here’s everything you need to know about why we commemorate June 19.