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  • Some Juneteenth events have been canceled due to political climate and negative feedback.
  • South Carolina does not recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday.

Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States that is celebrated every year on June 19.

Former President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day into law in 2021.

Since then, many Juneteenth events have been held across the country to serve as a reminder of the African American fight for freedom and equality. Events also highlight their resilience and achievements.

The Trump administration’s efforts to end federal diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across the nation has left many wondering if Juneteenth will continue to be embraced as a federal holiday.

Here’s what to know about the holiday in South Carolina.

What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a play on the date June 19, 1865, when the Union Army traveled to Galveston, Texas, under the leadership of General Gordon Granger to announce that all enslaved African Americans were free, according to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. Today, the date is a holiday used to reflect on what it means to celebrate African American freedom.

“Juneteenth is a moment to think about freedom being conditional freedom and it is something that we must continuously strive and fight for,” said Angela Tate, former curator of African American Women’s History at the museum.

When is Juneteenth this year?

This year, Juneteenth will be celebrated on Thursday, June 19.

Are Juneteenth events being canceled across the US?

Juneteenth will still be celebrated across the nation this year, but various news outlets have reported event cancellations across certain cities due to the current political climate and its anti-DEI sentiment. For instance, Juneteenth organizers in Plano, Illinois, have decided not to go ahead with their celebration because of “community engagement and negative feedback,” per Newsweek.

What has Trump said about Juneteenth?

President Donald Trump’s comments regarding Juneteenth have been met with mixed reactions. The president may have issued several statements commemorating the holiday in the past, but he also credited himself with the holiday’s rise in popularity. In a 2020 interview with The Wall Street Journal, he stated that “nobody had every heard of it” before he mentioned it ― a claim made after he rescheduled a campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, originally planned for Juneteenth to the following day.

“I did something good: I made Juneteenth famous.” he said, referring to the attention he received from media outlets at the time.

On the flip side, Trump has acknowledged the significance of the holiday and its importance in shaping American history. In a June 19, 2020 message, he said the following:

“Juneteenth reminds us of both the unimaginable injustice of slavery and the incomparable joy that must have attended emancipation. It is both a remembrance of a blight on our history and a celebration of our Nation’s unsurpassed ability to triumph over darkness.”

Does SC recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday?

S.C. does not recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday despite proposed bills to make it into one from several state lawmakers.

Nina Tran covers trending topics for The Greenville News. Reach her via email at ntran@gannett.com