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. 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.
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), California (2000), Michigan (1998), Missouri (2015), Ohio (2011), Oregon (2014), Tennessee (2019), 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), Maryland (2013), Puerto Rico, Washington, DC (2005), United States Virgin Islands (2017) Commemorates the Emancipation of slaves March 10 Harriet Tubman Day 1 2000 Maryland (2000) The death of Harriet Tubman May 19 Malcolm X Day 1 2015 Illinois (2015) The birthday of Malcolm X August 4 Barack Obama Day 1 2017 Illinois (2017) The birthday of Barack Obama February 4 Transit Equality Day 1 2022 Wisconsin (2022) The birthday of Rosa Parks February 1 George Washington Carver Day 1 2023 Iowa (2023)
Municipal holidays
The following African-American holidays are celebrated by different municipalities:
Date Name Number of Municipalities curating First celebrated Municipalities Celebrating Remarks March 3 Liberation and Freedom Day 1 2019 Charlottesville, Virginia (2019) Emancipation of slaves in Charlottesville September 24 Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival 1 1987 Annapolis, Maryland (1987) 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