Americans will celebrate Juneteenth on Thursday, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States with parades and parties.
Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, but has long been significant for many Black Americans. On June 19, 1865, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger proclaimed enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth is recognized as a public holiday in at least 28 states and Washington DC, with federal offices closed. Major retailers and grocery stores will be open, while banks and stock markets will be closed for the holiday
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