List of African-American holidays

{{Short description|none}}

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:

class="wikitable"
colspan=1| Date || Name || First celebrated || Remarks
third Monday of JanuaryMartin Luther King Jr. Day1986The birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.{{cite web|url=https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/#url=2013|website=opm.gov|title=Federal Holidays|access-date=2023-02-06}}
June 19Juneteenth National Independence Day2021Commemorates 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/475|website=congress.gov|title=www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/475|access-date=2023-02-06}}

State holidays

The following are African-American holidays celebrated in at least one US State or territory:

class="wikitable"
colspan=1| Date || Name || Number of States/territories celebrating || First celebrated || States Celebrating || Remarks
February 4 or December 1Rosa Parks Day81998Alabama (2018),{{cite web|url=https://www.servealabama.gov/mrs-rosa-l-parks-day|title=Mrs. Rosa L. Parks Day|website=servealabama|access-date=2023-02-06}} California (2000), Michigan (1998),{{cite web|url=https://www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/02/monday-is-rosa-parks-day-in-michigan.html|title=Monday is Rosa Parks Day in Michigan|website=mlive.com|access-date=2023-02-06}} Missouri (2015), Ohio (2011), Oregon (2014), Tennessee (2019),{{cite web|url=https://tntribune.com/tn-celebrates-2nd-annual-rosa-parks-day-with-bus-memorials-in-major-cities/|title=TN Celebrates 2nd Annual Rosa Parks Day with Bus Memorials in Major Cities - The Tennessee Tribune|website=tntribune.com|access-date=2023-02-06}} Texas (2021)The birthday or arrest of Rosa Parks
March 22 or April 16 or May 20 or July 3 or November 1Emancipation Day52005Florida (2021),{{cite web|url=https://dos.myflorida.com/library-archives/research/explore-our-resources/emancipation/|title=Emancipation Day in Florida - Division of Library and Information Services - Florida Department of State|website=dos.myflorida.com|access-date=2023-02-06}} Maryland (2013),{{cite news |last1=Young |first1=Timothy |url=https://www.dcnewsnow.com/news/local-news/maryland/maryland-officials-recognize-nov-1-as-emancipation-day/ |title=Maryland officials recognize November 1 as Emancipation Day |access-date=2023-02-06 |work=DC News Now |date=November 2, 2020}} Puerto Rico, Washington, DC (2005),{{cite web|url=https://emancipation.dc.gov/page/history-emancipation-day|title=History of Emancipation Day|website=emancipation|access-date=2023-02-06}} United States Virgin Islands (2017){{cite web|url=https://www.vi.gov/july-3-marks-170-years-since-virgin-islands-emancipation/|title=July 3 marks 170 years since Virgin Islands Emancipation - Government of the United States Virgin Islands|website=vi.gov|access-date=2023-02-06}}Commemorates the Emancipation of slaves
March 10Harriet Tubman Day12000Maryland (2000){{cite web|url=https://news.maryland.gov/dnr/2020/02/24/harriet-tubman-day-celebrated-in-march/|website=news.maryland.gov|title=Harriet Tubman Day Celebrated in March|access-date=2023-02-06}}The death of Harriet Tubman
May 19Malcolm X Day12015Illinois (2015){{cite web|url=https://chicagomonitor.com/2015/05/illinois-designates-may-19-as-malcolm-x-day/|title=Illinois Designates May 19 as Malcolm X Day|website=Chicago Monitor|access-date=2023-02-06}}The birthday of Malcolm X
August 4Barack Obama Day12017Illinois (2017){{cite web|url=https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/national-international/barack-obama-day-illinois-holiday/21300/|title='Barack Obama Day' Is Now an Illinois Holiday|website=NBC Chicago|access-date=2023-02-06}}The birthday of Barack Obama
February 4Transit Equality Day12022Wisconsin (2022){{cite web|url=https://www.weau.com/2022/02/04/transit-equity-day-recognized-wisconsin/|website=weau.com|title="Transit Equity Day" recognized in Wisconsin|access-date=2023-02-06}}The birthday of Rosa Parks
February 1George Washington Carver Day12023Iowa (2023){{cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/iowa-celebrates-inaugural-george-washington-carver-day-on-feb-1/ar-AA16XQSc|website=msn.com|title=Iowa celebrates inaugural George Washington Carver Day on Feb. 1|access-date=2023-02-06}}

Municipal holidays

The following African-American holidays are celebrated by different municipalities:

class="wikitable"
colspan=1| Date || Name || Number of Municipalities curating || First celebrated || Municipalities Celebrating || Remarks
March 3Liberation and Freedom Day12019Charlottesville, Virginia (2019){{cite web|url=https://www.wtvr.com/2019/07/03/liberation-and-freedom-day-charlottesville|website=wtvr.com|title=Charlottesville to honor Liberation and Freedom Day, not Thomas Jefferson's birthday|access-date=2023-02-06}}Emancipation of slaves in Charlottesville
September 24Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival11987Annapolis, Maryland (1987){{cite web|url=https://www.visitannapolis.org/blog/stories/post/kunta-kinte-heritage-festival-a-celebration-of-culture/|website=visitannapolis.org|title=Kunta Kinte Heritage Festival: a Celebration of Culture|access-date=2023-02-06}}The arrival of Kunta Kinte

Other

The following are non-government African American holidays:

class="wikitable"
colspan=1| Date || Name || Organization || First celebrated || Remarks
April 15Jackie Robinson DayMajor League Baseball2004Opening day for Jackie Robinson's first season
JuneOdunde FestivalPhiladelphia community1975Celebration of the Yoruba people
FebruaryBlack History MonthBlack Students Union1970February in the United States and Canada, October in the United Kingdom and Ireland
JuneAfrican-American Music Appreciation Month1979
December 26 to January 1Kwanzaa1966

References