Celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. 

Origins and history of Juneteenth 

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Black people enslaved in Galveston Bay, Texas, finally learned of their freedom. It was two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Since then, Juneteenth has been recognized as the day chattel slavery ended in the United States.  

In 1980, Texas became the first state in the U.S. to declare Juneteenth a state holiday, and, in 2021, President Biden signed a bill to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Although official recognition of Juneteenth varies at the state level, as of 2023, at least 28 states and the District of Columbia legally recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday, according to the Pew Research Center. In 2021, the Washington state legislature officially recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday. 

Celebration, reflection and change 

Juneteenth is a day of celebration. It is also a day for reflection on the history of slavery in the U.S., the systemic inequities left in its legacy and our responsibility to create a more just and equitable future. The themes of this holiday are to pay homage to family, freedom, activism, and resilience. Red is synonymous with this day of remembrance representing sacrifice and the roots of its symbolic role throughout history can be traced to foods from West Africa such as hibiscus and Kola nut. 

Learn

• Read about the history of the observance: What is Juneteenth? 
• Read Juneteenth Foods: A Culinary Reflection from UW Medicine chef Vanessa Gray-Douglas (UW NetID required). 
• Learn from UW professor emeritus and historian Quintard Taylor: Juneteenth: The Growth of an African American Holiday. 
• Learn from the National Museum of African American History and Culture: Juneteenth Senses of Freedom: The Taste, Sound, and Experience of an African American Celebration. 
• Watch Juneteenth: Freedom at Last from the Minnesota Historical Society. 
• Explore Employee Resources from the Office of Healthcare Equity. 

Events

• UW Medicine Juneteenth flag raising (UW NetID required) on Wednesday, June 18 at noon, at all hospital campuses. 
• Celebrate Juneteenth Week with the Northwest African American Museum. 
• Get outside for a Juneteenth Discover Pass Free Day. On June 19, a Discover Pass is not required to park on any land managed by the Department of Natural Resources, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. 
• Juneteenth events in Seattle. 
• Seattle Juneteenth events from EverOut. 
• Juneteenth events across the country. 
• Check out this Juneteenth Digital Toolkit from the National Museum of African American History and Culture