Bergen County recognized Monday's upcoming federal holiday of Juneteenth with a special ceremony on Thursday.

The event served as a reminder to the community that Black history is American history.

"When we ban books, when we take out AP history from places, when we do things of that nature, were saying that 'you don't count,'" said Bergen County NAACP President Jeff Carter.

"It is a holiday about government procrastination and delayed liberation," said Mary Amoroso, of the Bergen County Board of Commissioners.

RELATED: Guide: Juneteenth events and celebrations throughout New Jersey

Juneteenth, otherwise known as "Freedom Day" or "Emancipation Day" recognizes the abolition of slavery in the United States.

For the first time in Hackensack, Juneteenth was officially observed, starting with a presentation of colors, song and prayer.

"In a time where we celebrate freedom, we still have work to do. We are still not equally free in our ability to be given a fair chance to represent our people," said Rev. Dr. Drew Kyndall Ross, of the New Hope Baptist Church.

Juneteenth dates back to 1865 when union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to proclaim that all slaves were free.

New Jersey was the last northern state to free its slaves.

Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.

The New Jersey state holiday is on June 16.