WEST ORANGE, NJ – Hazel Elementary School celebrated Juneteenth on June 17 in style, featuring music, dance, food, games, and fun. Organized by the PTA, the event drew a supportive and enthusiastic crowd.

Officially called  "Juneteenth National Independence Day", Juneteenth is now a federal holiday in the United States that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. It was signed into law on June 17, 2021 by President Joe Biden as S. 475, the “Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.”

Two years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, Major General Gordon Granger issued an order on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for the last remaining enslaved African Americans in the Confederacy in Texas.

Following that, celebrations commemorating the event began growing, many in churches across Texas and the South, and moved across the country, recognizing both the day and African-American culture. The last named Federal Holiday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 1983.

At Hazel, attendees were able to participate in a drum class, a dance class, read books, play games, pose for photos, and of course, enjoy a barbecue. It was a beautiful day for celebrating Juneteenth and African-American culture.

See photos from the Hazel Elementary Juneteenth celebration HERE.