On Monday, June 19, 2023, KRA employees topped off their 3-day weekend, or enjoyed a special day of celebration, with families and friends to honor Juneteenth, a Federal Holiday in the U.S. that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans.
“Juneteenth”, a combination of “June” and “nineteenth”, reflects June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger issued an order, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 in Texas, freeing all remaining slaves.
Juneteenth was observed annually in various parts of the country for 150+ years—commonly celebrating history, literature, music, and other traditional mainstays of African-American culture through church-centered community gatherings.
On June 21, 2021, an historical milestone was achieved when President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth the 11th legal observance as a Federal Holiday since Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was designated in 1983.
Interestingly, Juneteenth has been “adopted” in parts of Mexico, celebrated by descendants of Black Seminoles who, in 1852, escaped from slavery in Florida, and settled in Coahuila, Mexico.
Access these exciting sites for Juneteenth celebrations, information, and resources: