As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Juneteenth as an official federal holiday, EBONY looks back at June 17, 2021, the day the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law by President Joe Biden. The legislation established June 19 as a legal federal holiday in the United States, commemorating the end of slavery and honoring the resilience and contributions of Black Americans throughout the nation’s history.
President Biden signed the bill during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House surrounded by lawmakers, civil rights leaders, advocates, and members of Congress who helped champion the effort. Among those present was Opal Lee, often referred to as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” whose decades-long campaign for federal recognition played a pivotal role in bringing the holiday to national prominence. Vice President Kamala Harris, members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and bipartisan congressional leaders also attended the historic event.
During the signing, Biden called Juneteenth “one of the greatest honors” of his presidency and noted that “great nations don’t ignore their most painful moments. They embrace them.” Harris described the day as a reminder that America must continue striving to live up to its ideals of freedom and equality.
The legislation moved through Congress with remarkable speed and overwhelming bipartisan support. The Senate unanimously approved the bill on June 15, 2021, and the House followed the next day with a decisive 415–14 vote. Just one day later, Biden signed it into law, making Juneteenth the first new federal holiday established by Congress since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983.
Congressional leaders from both parties said establishing the holiday was an important gesture in recognizing those who suffered under American slavery and a meaningful step toward racial reconciliation. The federal recognition of Juneteenth elevated the observance to the same status as holidays such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Thanksgiving, ensuring its significance would be acknowledged nationwide for generations to come.
This law is to be effective immediately.