Juneteenth is on its way to becoming a federal holiday in the United States. This week, the Senate passed a bill in support of national recognition of June 19th, also known as Emancipation Day.
A misconception about June 19th is that this is the day that slavery in the United States ended. In fact, Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865, when a Union general arrived in Texas to inform the last group of enslaved African Americans of their freedom. This announcement came two years after Abraham Lincoln’s 1863 Emancipation Proclamation and Confederate states surrendered to end the Civil War. And so this day is in part a celebration of freedom, but also a solemn recognition of the suffering of enslaved Africans across the 400 years of slavery in the United States.
Juneteenth has taken on new significance over the past two years, particularly as protests against racial injustice have spanned the nation and around the world. As restrictions imposed due to the pandemic begin to lift, be on the lookout for safe, celebratory gatherings dedicated to reflection, discussion, and action.
The following books and resources provide opportunities for students to learn more about Juneteenth.
Books
Juneteenth for Maize by Floyd Cooper All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson Juneteenth by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford Freedom's Gifts: A Juneteenth Story by Valerie Wesley
Resources
Google Doodle: 155th Anniversary of Juneteenth Behind the Doodle: Behind the Doodle: 155th Anniversary of Juneteenth National Museum of African American History & Culture - Celebrating Juneteenth Learning For Justice - Teaching Juneteenth PBS - Juneteenth | All About The Holidays