African-Americans make up 12% of the American population and there are several holidays that celebrate them.
Federal holidays
The following are African-American federal holidays in the United States:
| Date | Name | First celebrated | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| third Monday of January | Martin Luther King Jr. Day | 1986 | The birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.[1] |
| June 19 | Juneteenth National Independence Day | 2021 | Commemorates General Order No. 3, the legal decree issued in 1865 by Union General Gordon Granger enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation to the residents of Galveston, Texas, at the end of the American Civil War.[2] |
State holidays
The following are African-American holidays celebrated in at least one US State or territory:
| Date | Name | Number of States/territories celebrating | First celebrated | States Celebrating | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 4 or December 1 | Rosa Parks Day | 8 | 1998 | Alabama (2018),[3] California (2000), Michigan (1998),[4] Missouri (2015), Ohio (2011), Oregon (2014), Tennessee (2019),[5] Texas (2021) | The birthday or arrest of Rosa Parks |
| March 22 or April 16 or May 20 or July 3 or November 1 | Emancipation Day | 5 | 2005 | Florida (2021),[6] Maryland (2013),[7] Puerto Rico, Washington, DC (2005),[8] United States Virgin Islands (2017)[9] | Commemorates the Emancipation of slaves |
| March 10 | Harriet Tubman Day | 1 | 2000 | Maryland (2000)[10] | The death of Harriet Tubman |
| May 19 | Malcolm X Day | 1 | 2015 | Illinois (2015)[11] | The birthday of Malcolm X |
| August 4 | Barack Obama Day | 1 | 2017 | Illinois (2017)[12] | The birthday of Barack Obama |
| February 4 | Transit Equality Day | 1 | 2022 | Wisconsin (2022)[13] | The birthday of Rosa Parks |
| February 1 | George Washington Carver Day | 1 | 2023 | Iowa (2023)[14] |
Municipal holidays
The following African-American holidays are celebrated by different municipalities:
| Date | Name | Number of Municipalities curating | First celebrated | Municipalities Celebrating | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1 | Liberation and Freedom Day | 1 | 2019 | Charlottesville, Virginia (2019)[15] | Emancipation of slaves in Charlottesville |
| September 24 | Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival | 1 | 1987 | Annapolis, Maryland (1987)[16] | The arrival of Kunta Kinte |
Other
The following are non-government African American holidays:
| Date | Name | Organization | First celebrated | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 15 | Jackie Robinson Day | Major League Baseball | 2004 | Opening day for Jackie Robinson's first season |
| June | Odunde Festival | Philadelphia community | 1975 | Celebration of the Yoruba people |
| February | Black History Month | Black Students Union | 1970 | February in the United States and Canada, October in the United Kingdom and Ireland |
| June | African-American Music Appreciation Month | 1979 | ||
| December 26 to January 1 | Kwanzaa | 1966 |
References
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