Watch the Digital Desk segment with Old Dominion University Assistant Professor of African American History, Marvin Chiles, Ph.D. in the video player on this page.

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – June 19 is Juneteenth. The date commemorates when the last enslaved people in the United States learned of their freedom on June 19, 1865 in Galveston Bay, Texas.

The holiday is also known as “Emancipation Day”, “Freedom Day”, and more.

While 2024 marks the fourth year of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, it’s been celebrated by states, communities and individuals for decades.

Texas declared June 19 a state holiday starting in 1980, calling it “Emancipation Day in Texas”. Other southern states followed suit including Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma and more.

“Juneteenth was originally one of the many celebratory holidays that black Americans, they created and engaged in after the civil war to one, celebrate the end of the war, two, to celebrate the ending of slavery, and three, to express to the rest of the country they desire to be American citizens, full-fledged American citizens with equal rights,” said Marvin Chiles, Ph.D., an assistant professor of African American history at Old Dominion University.

Chiles says that is where the foundation of Juneteenth began. Originally, there were many different holidays celebrated for freedom. Juneteenth was more of a Deep South tradition. In Virginia, Chiles says the day was called “Emancipation Day.”

“It wasn’t really until the 1960s, 1970s that the Juneteenth one spread,” Chiles said.

During that time is when the holiday began to grow into the rest of the country. That growth was brought about by black historical organizations, black Greek life organizations and historically black colleges.

Then eventually, white-run organizations and interracial organizations joined in, like historical organizations and racial reconciliation groups.

“[They] began to really push for Juneteenth to be recognized and celebrated as an American holiday,” Chiles said.

When Chiles speaks to people about Juneteenth, he shares the message that it is a day for all Americans to come together.

He says people should realize and acknowledge that July 4th is an important date as the birth of the country, and Juneteenth is the date when all people’s freedoms, spoken about in the Declaration of Independence, could start to come to fruition.

“If you love to celebrate July 4th, you’ve got to celebrate Juneteenth,” Chiles said.

Chiles spoke more about the holiday, the meaning here in Hampton Roads and more in the conversation. Watch the rest of the conversation in the video player to learn about the holiday.

Trying to find ways to celebrate Juneteenth?

Take a look at the Juneteenth guide to find events happening locally, below.

Watch the full Digital Desk conversation to hear more about Juneteenth.