Did you know that Texas was the first state to recognize Juneteenth? In 1980, Texas called it “Emancipation Day.” Since then, at least 48 states and the District of Columbia have acknowledged Juneteenth as a holiday or observance.

Amid the worldwide civil rights protests that took place in 2020, many companies began to recognize Juneteenth as a paid holiday for employees. 

In June of 2021, the city of Galveston, in partnership with the Juneteenth Legacy Project, unveiled “Absolute Equality,” a 5,000-square-foot public art mural that overlooks the spot where U.S. Maj. Gen. Granger read General Order No. 3.

On June 17, 2021, U.S. President Joseph R. Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Act, which establishes June 19th as a federal holiday.