View Comments This year, Juneteenth lands in the dust of both a global health crisis and an emboldened movement for racial justice in the United States. The holiday, growing in celebration and recognition throughout the country, commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States — more specifically June 19,1865, when the last slaves were freed in Texas. Texas was the first state to formally mark the holiday in 1980, and 47 states and Washington, D.C. have since commemorated it with a state holiday or observance. The date has not been adopted as a federal holiday, though efforts continue. Black Lives Matter protests throughout the country in 2020 also brought a renewed focus to racial justice, causing more private companies to start designating Juneteenth as a paid company holiday for employees.