What to know about Juneteenth now that it's a federal holiday
Despite
Juneteenth's storied history, the holiday was largely overlooked by n
on-Black Americans until recent years.
The momentum of the
Black Lives Matter movement propelled Juneteenth into the national spotlight, building on a decades-long push by
activists and leaders to get recognition for the landmark occasion. Last year,
Juneteenth became the latest federal holiday in the
US.
With
Juneteenth now a national holiday, many
public and private sector employees enjoy an extra day off from work while brands and corporations capitalize on the event with
celebratory marketing campaigns. But there's much more to
Juneteenth than a long weekend and branded products.
As
Black Americans continue to face the same challenges and inequities that inspired so many to take to the streets in
2020, it's worth reflecting on the
history behind the holiday.
