JUNETEENTH Definition & Meaning

Juneteenth

[joon-teenth]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

June 19, a U.S. holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the United States and commemorating the emancipation of the last enslaved African Americans, in Texas, on June 19, 1865.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of Juneteenth¹

First recorded in 1935–40; June + (nine)teenth

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Example Sentences

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Juneteenth, an official national holiday since 2021, brings with it free admission to all national parks and forests.

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For those who can’t make it to national parks on Juneteenth, free access will be available on three more days this year: Aug. 4, Sep. 27 and Nov. 11.

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Pride events throughout June and Juneteenth present other ripe signature-gathering opportunities they hope to capitalize on.

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For decades the story of the massacre was largely erased from history, but it was thrust into the spotlight in 2020 when then-President Donald Trump announced he would hold an election rally in Tulsa on 19 June, or Juneteenth, the day commemorating the end of slavery.

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He rescheduled the rally and his successor, Joe Biden, declared Juneteenth a national holiday.

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When To Use

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a U.S. holiday that commemorates the anniversary of the day (June 19, 1865) on which enslaved African Americans in Texas became some of the last enslaved people in the U.S. to be informed that slavery had been abolished.Juneteenth is also often observed as a time to commemorate the end of chattel slavery in the U.S.Observance of Juneteenth often involves celebratory events and gatherings, especially among African Americans. Observance of the day also often involves events and programs focused on education about and discussion of the legacy of slavery in the U.S., including the ongoing struggle to dismantle systemic racism in U.S. society.Juneteenth was adopted as a U.S. federal holiday in 2021, officially called Juneteenth National Independence Day.It is sometimes also called Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Black Independence Day.Visit our article to learn more about how Juneteenth is observed and celebrated.

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