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Have you ever heard of Juneteenth? You probably know about America’s Independence Day, which is celebrated on the 4th of July, but Juneteenth is also called “America’s second Independence Day”. Keep reading to find out more!
Every year, Black families and communities come together to celebrate Juneteenth with food, singing and dancing, and parades. There are also often readings of works by famous Black authors. As a result, Juneteenth has become a celebration of Black culture, but it is also a day on which people remember their history and teach others about it.
On June 19th 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation1, enslaved African Americans in Texas learned that they were free. People celebrated their freedom and many generations have celebrated this day ever since!
The first annual celebration of Juneteenth took place in Texas in 1866, but it eventually spread throughout the country as previously enslaved Texans moved to other areas and took their traditions with them. In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday2.
This year (2023), Juneteenth will be celebrated for the third time since it became a federal holiday and hopefully it will be celebrated for many years to come.
Notes:
1 Emancipation Proclamation: on September 22nd 1862, President Abraham Lincoln announced that enslaved people in the rebelling southern states would be freed on January 1st 1863. This freed enslaved people on paper, but not in reality.
2 Federal holiday: a holiday that is recognised by the US government. It is a paid day off for federal employees.
Questions
- Work in pairs. Prepare a one-minute presentation or a short article for your school newspaper (+/- 100 words) about Juneteenth. Use information from the text and the video above, and do your own research. Use the grid to take notes and include that information as well. Click here to download the grid. When you’re done, share your presentation or article with another pair and give each other feedback.
- Watch the video above. What does Opal Lee’s 2.5 mile walk on Juneteenth symbolise?
- Watch this video and look at the Juneteenth flag. Describe the flag and its meaning using your own words.
Discussion questions
Discuss the following questions with a classmate or in small groups.
- Look at the websites of Juneteenth events that are being organised this year. Which event would you like to attend and why? Choose from: Juneteenth concert, Juneteenth walk/run, Juneteenth festival.
- Do you think teaching about the history of slavery is relevant in today’s world? Why do you think so?
Download the answer key.
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