Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It is centered around Texas where the last people were freed. The first official celebration happened on the 1-year anniversary, where it was known as “Jubilee Day”. [1] As the celebrations become a part of Texas culture, other states picked it up as symbol of freedom for African Americans nationwide. It became a state holiday in 1980. Opal Lee, sometimes called the "Grandmother of Juneteenth" led the charge to making Juneteenth a federal holiday. [3] Through a combination of symbolic walks of 2.5 miles from Texas to the White House, petitions and community engagement, she ensured that for years the topic of Juneteenth was on the public's radar. Eventually, in 2021 a federal holiday with the official name “Juneteenth National Independence Day” set in place by the act of the same name. Opal Lee was in attendance at the bill's signing. [2, 3] This event is now even celebrated internationally as a showcase of solidarity and community worldwide.
There are often celebrations and events throughout Atlanta in celebration of Juneteenth. One event is Juneteenth Atlanta, which has a parade and music festival. More information is available here: https://www.juneteenthatl.com/. In the meantime, check out these books about the history of Juneteenth.
Sources
[1] https://www.history.com/articles/what-is-juneteenth
[2] https://www.civilwarmonitor.com/article/juneteenth/
[3] https://www.biography.com/activists/a44213763/opal-lee-juneteenth-activist
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