About Juneteenth

Juneteenth, June 19th, is a celebration marking the end of enslavement in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, a group of Union troops stopped in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved people that the Civil War was over, the Confederacy was defeated, and enslaved people in Texas were free. Though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, many slaveholders refused to comply. A full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after Union troops seized Richmond, the capital of the Confederate States of America, the last enslaved African Americans in Texas were declared free people. That momentous date in 1865 was proclaimed Juneteenth and has been celebrated annually since then.

Today, Juneteenth serves as a holiday to reflect on our nation’s history, commemorate emancipation, and look towards the future impact of Black culture and community. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

To learn more, visit some of these resources devoted to Juneteenth and the history of Black America:

• Atlanta United History Center
• "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by James Weldon Johnson
• NAACP, the home of grassroots activism for civil rights and social justice
• The King Center, the center for nonviolent social change
• The 404 Kit, Atlanta United's third kit in 2023 made in collaboration with Atlanta Influences Everything

Atlanta United and Juneteenth

Atlanta United honors Juneteenth annually at one home match. This year, the celebration takes place on June 15 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium against Houston Dynamo. The match will feature Black voices throughout matchday, including the national anthem, a drumline by the Atlanta Drum Academy and a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing," known as the Black National Anthem.

Atlanta United has honored Juneteenth throughout the years, elevating the voices of our players, our fans and our staff (See below images from past matches where we've honored Juneteenth).