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Have you ever heard of Juneteenth? You probably know about America’s Independence Day, which is celebrated each year 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. They celebrate with food, singing and dancing, and parades. 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, enslaved African Americans in Texas learned that they were free. This was two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation1. People celebrated their freedom and many generations have celebrated this day ever since!
The first annual (jaarlijkse) celebration was in Texas in 1866, but since then Juneteenth celebrations have spread all over the US. In 2021, Juneteenth became a national holiday.
This year (2023), Juneteenth will be celebrated for the third time since it became a federal holiday. Hopefully, it will be celebrated for many years to come.
Notes:
1 Emancipation Proclamation: on September 22nd 1862, President Lincoln announced that enslaved people in the South would be freed on January 1st 1863.
Questions
- Why do you think the celebration is called Juneteenth? Look at the word and the information in the text to find out.
- How long has Juneteenth been celebrated?
- Look up Juneteenth online. What was the name of the person who told the enslaved people about their freedom? He read an order. What was the order called?
- Watch the video above. Opal Lee walks 2.5 miles on Juneteenth. Why exactly 2.5 miles?
- 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 important in today’s world? Why do you think so?
Download the answer key.
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