Juneteenth, also known as Liberation Day or Emancipation Day, is a holiday that’s been acknowledged more in the past few years. It happens on June 19th, and it marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that the enslaved people of Texas had been freed.
Juneteenth was a celebration in Texas through the 1800s and began to spread through the South, often as a community gathering centering on food, in the 1920s and ’30s. The day became a federal holiday in 2021, and it is recognized as a holiday in every state.
While it’s a heavy holiday because it deals with the history of slavery and those enslaved people in Texas has legally been freed in 1863, it is also a celebration and marked by some as a second Independence Day.
We Are Teachers has a nice collection of books and videos to read and watch with kids about Juneteenth, which is a good place to start.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture has a great PDF on teaching or talking about Juneteenth with kids, including a discussion on when kids are old enough to learn about slavery and why it’s important to talk about and celebrate Juneteenth today.
In the past I’ve collected some facts and worksheets about Juneteeth for kids to use, as well as some great printable games and more resources for learning about Juneteenth.
If your community has a celebration that’s another great way to help kids understand that Juneteenth is a celebration as well as a remembrance of a dark time in our nation’s history. Or if you want to focus on the food aspect, there are a lot of great ideas for Juneteenth menus, including this one from Divas Can Cook. Just make sure there’s something red on the table (like strawberry soda or red velvet cake) because red foods symbolize resilience and joy.
[Photo: National Museum of African American History and Culture.]
Leave a Reply