Juneteenth is a day of freedom, service, history and pride.
Today, Tomorrow …
Juneteenth - also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day and Jubilee Day - is a U.S. holiday celebrated on June 19th, to commemorate the proclamation that all enslaved people in confederate states were free.
The Emancipation Proclamation - issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 - changed the legal status of enslaved people to free, but Union general Gordon Granger’s reading of those federal orders did not take place in Galveston, TX until June 19, 1865.
In 1866, Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June and nineteenth) was first celebrated by Black Texas and expanded to Black communities across the United States. In 2021, Juneteeth was declared a U.S. federal holiday and special day of observance.
It’s a day of freedom, service, history and pride.
And the Day After That
Let’s get into the abcs and xyzs of Juneteenth. Learn, explore and restore with these useful movements and resources.
Make sure to click the links!
a
A Celebration of Freedom by Charles A. Taylor - this book for grades 3-5 “effectively conveys the jubilation that occurred on June 19, 1865 when African American people in Texas were the last to be freed from the horrors of U.S. slavery …”
This is also a great time to introduce educational, inclusive books to this age group, such as Our First Bus Ride - a fun children’s book about the adventures of business and entrepreneurship by Derek Francis (author) and Ashley Finch (illustrator); and Ambitious Girl - a book about how our power is limitless by Meena Harris (author) and Marissa Valdez (illustrator).
b
[Barack] Obama Presidential Center - located on the historic South Side of Chicago - officially opens to the public on June 19, 2026.
“There is a new generation out there ready to write the next chapter of our story. We intend to help them do it and we ask that you join us.” - President Obama, Grand Opening Ceremony | June 18, 2026.
c
Library of Congress explores other historic events that took place on June 19th such as The Statue of Liberty’s arrival on Bedloe’s Island [1885] and the initiation of the Marshall Plan [1947].
d
2020’s video Google Doodle, illustrated by Los Angeles-based guest artist Loveis Wise and narrated by actor and activist LeVar Burton, honors the 155th anniversary of Juneteenth.
e
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863 but it took over 2 years for this news to reach the enslaved men and women of Texas.
f
The Juneteenth Flag was designed by L.J. Graf. “The colors red, white and blue echo the American flag to symbolize that the enslaved people and their descendants were Americans.” The star in the middle holds a dual meaning - a nod to Texas while also a “bursting new star on the horizon of the red and blue fields [which] represents a new freedom and a new people.” - Mental Floss 6.19.18
g
General Orders No. 3 read that “the people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.” - June 19, 1865
h
#HellaJuneteenth is a movement - started by Bay Area collective @WeHellaCreative - that provides actionable strategies for honoring Juneteenth.
i
Checkout “I am a Slave” from the Black-ish Season 4 premier. The Roots meet Schoolhouse Rock in this 1 minute reenactment of the history of the end of the slavery.
j
Juneteenth by the Numbers looks at the important numbers associated with the holiday - like 13, the U.S. Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery and 200,000, the number of Black men that served in the Navy and Army on behalf of the Union in the Civil War.
k
Kamala Harris, Tony Dungy, Stacey Abrams, Martin Luther King, III and other Black leaders each share what Juneteenth means to them.
l
Listen to V1017’s Juneteenth Playlist as part of Black Music Month.
m
The Mascogos - whose name translates to “Birth of the Blacks” - descend from enslaved people who escaped Southern plantations, fled to Florida (Black Seminoles) and were forced out along the Trail of Tears. Mascogo people live in Coahuila, Mexico; and as part of the African Diaspora, celebrate Juneteenth.
n
National Juneteenth Observance Foundation was founded in 1994 in the midst of the fight against police brutality - much like today. The Rev. Dr. Ronald Myers, in collaboration with fellow ministers, were inspired to create the NJOF after witnessing the horrific beating of Rodney King in 1992 and other mistreatments of Black people by police in New Orleans and nationwide.
o
Opal Lee of Fort Worth, TX is a 96 year-old activist, “Grandmother of Juneteenth” and advocate for making Juneteenth a federal holiday. In 2016 she started a walk across the country to spread the word and petition for change.
In 2022, Juneteenth became an official federal holiday (the current administration has since deleted this webpage).
p
PBS explores, What is Juneteenth? with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
q
Questlove, Black Thought and Michelle Obama hosted a virtual When We All Vote initiative as part of the 13th Annual Roots picnic in 2020. Today, the initiative is a “leading national, nonpartisan initiative on a mission to change the culture around voting and to increase participation in each and every election by helping to close the race and age gap.”
r
The Root discusses how Juneteenth was born and path of resistance and resilience since.
s
soulforce: the movements of memory exhibit is open at the Mill City Museum in Minneapolis, MN. Exhibit curator James Curry shares how soulforce “explores the collaboration and connection between Black, Indigenous, and Chicano communities and their movements for autonomy, self-determination and liberation in the post-civil rights era in Minneapolis, the Twin Cities and the Nation.” Exhibit open until October 4, 2026.
t
Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980. The Honorable Rep. Al Edwards - also known as “Mr. Juneteenth” and “The Father of Juneteenth” - introduced the bill in 1979 that recognized Juneteenth as a state holiday.
u
Unreleased until recently, listen to a solo version of Aretha Franklin’s “Never Gonna Lose My Faith” ft. background vocals of The Boys Choir of Harlem [Sony’s RCA Records]
v
Virtual BBQ Juneteenth Celebrationwith Astronomy Club - Jimmy Fallon learns the history of Juneteenth with the cast of Netflix’s popular sketch comedy show.
w
We Are Teachers shares “17 Ideas for Teaching Juneteenth to Children” including age appropriate books, videos and activities.
x
xoNecole - Millennial lifestyle and culture platform shares How Black Texans Celebrate Juneteenth.
y
YOU can be a part of WE. Learn about Black History - which is American history. Join the movement. Be the voice and the change. Support local causes and organizations. And fight for the freedom of ALL.
z
Zaliwa is the Swahili word for birth and manifestation. Today is the birth of a transformative freedom.
Happy Juneteenth!
“We wanted to use Juneteenth to call attention to the world that things are not right, and Black people are people too, and we want equal treatment for being people too … it’s a rallying cry for us.”