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Fun Facts - Answer

Kansas Joins Thirty States and the District of Columbia

Kansas became the thirty-first state to recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday or observance.  Juneteenth was widely celebrated in the years following 1865 in African American communities. But over time celebration of June 19 as a second independence day diminished. Through the 60s and 70s celebrations increased. Texas led the way to wide recognition when it named Juneteenth as state holiday and observance in 1980. Since that time thirty states and Washington DC have designated Juneteenth a holiday. There is a movement to make it a National Observance like Flag Day, June 14 or Patriots’ Day, the third Monday in April.