Today the U.S. is commemorating Juneteenth as a federal holiday for only the second time since President Biden signed it into law in June of 2021. Stock markets, banks, and schools are closed in observance of the holiday that remembers the last slaves held in the Confederacy to receive the notification of their freedom in Texas on June 19, 1865.

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 Juneteenth Celebration Observed as a Federal Holiday

It's a very big day. We're celebrating Juneteenth, a day honoring the end of slavery in this country. And while history dates back to its nearly 160 years ago, it only became a federal holiday in June of 2021. This is the first time Juneteenth is being widely observed with closures of federal agencies, banks, schools and a lot more clothes today. Official holiday actually was yesterday on a sunday, but most closures are happening today. The new york stock exchange and the NASDAQ are not actively trading today. There were also events throughout the weekend as well. And that included concert at san Francisco's Golden Gate Park. Freedom walks in Galveston texas and a music festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey as well. Atlanta kicked things off with parades beginning at the historic Ebenezer baptist Church where civil rights leaders martin Luther King Jr preached while Kansas City offered virtual and in person educational workshops. African american history is american history and juneteenth marks a day of reflection for all of us.