Known to some as the country’s “second Independence Day,” Juneteenth celebrates the freedom of enslaved people in the United States at the end of the Civil War. For more than 150 years, African American communities across the country have observed this holiday. 

Juneteenth has gained awareness in recent years as activists have pushed for state and federal recognition. In 2021, their efforts finally came to fruition when U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill into law that officially designates Juneteenth—observed each year on June 19—as an American holiday. As the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, federal workers will have the day off on