In the lead-up to 19 June 2021, both chambers of the US Congress moved swiftly to pass the bill and - with the signature of President Biden, it became law.
It was the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr Day was established in 1983.
Among the campaigners for a federal holiday were Opal Lee, who, at age 89, walked from Texas to Washington DC in 2016 to raise awareness and persuade lawmakers.
She walked 2.5 miles (4km) each day - representing the two-and-a-half years it took for enslaved people in Texas to learn they had been freed.
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I did some housework and took my kids swimming at the pool. It was pretty chill, and I was able to explain what the holiday is all about. I hope they remember and treat others with respect.
We should probably eliminate flag day and wave our flags on Juneteenth, because ending slavery is so much more important than adopting a flag.
If you didn’t get it off, I hope your work day was chill. I make it a point to not go shopping on holidays, and I hope others do too. Mad respect to Opal Lee and the rest, thank you for this holiday.
