WHAT IS JUNETEENTH ?
WHY IN NEWS ?
- US President Joe Biden is to sign a law to make June 19 or “Juneteenth” a national holiday. This holiday will be recognized by federal government to commemorating end of slavery after American Civil War.
- Bill to establish Juneteenth National Independence Day was supported in both houses of US Congress and now needs to be approved by White House to become law.
- It was passed in the backdrop of the killing of George Floyd that triggered anti-racism protests in the US.
- Juneteenth is going to be the first new federal holiday created in almost four decades.
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WHAT IS JUNETEENTH ?
- Juneteenth combination of June and nineteenth, is observed on June 19 every year. It is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of end of slavery in America.
- The day is recognized as a holiday in 47 US states and the District of Columbia, Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day.
- Juneteenth celebration started in 1866 from the state of Texas, with community-centric events like cookouts, parades, prayer gatherings, historical & cultural readings and musical performances.
- While, era of “Modern Juneteenth Movement” started in 1994 from New Orleans in Louisiana with the objective of greater recognition of Juneteenth.