Are you familiar with Juneteenth? Do you know what it is or why it is celebrated? If not, let’s have a little history lesson together! It’s a national holiday definitely worth including in your homeschool for your children.
Juneteenth Origin
To know why we celebrate Juneteenth, we must go back to 1863 during the American Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, and in doing so, he declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebelling states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” This granted freedom to more than 3 million slaves!
With the war still raging, however, news was slow to spread. Two and a half years and the official end of the war would pass before Union soldiers including Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston and brought word to the state of Texas that slavery had been terminated. Upon their arrival on June 19, 1865, those who had been slaves were naturally overjoyed at the news of their freedom. They began to sing, dance, pray, and feast.
As it does, it took time for things to change, but on June 19 of the following year, Texans had the first official Juneteenth (a mash-up of the words “June” and “nineteenth”) celebration. They sang spirituals, held prayer meetings, and wore brand new clothes as a symbol of their new lives and freedom.
Juneteenth Today
Juneteenth became an annual tradition in Texas, and other states eventually began joining in the celebration as well. It gained traction and became more wide-spread during the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1960s. It was officially recognized by Texas as a state holiday in 1980, and many other states followed their example. The legislation for Juneteenth to become a federal holiday was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on June 17, 2021.
Today, celebrations typically include parades, speeches, religious services, and lots of food, singing, and dancing. The color red is associated with this holiday. It stands for transition and sacrifice. Many wear the color red and eat red foods in their celebrations.
Ideas for Juneteenth Celebration
If you’re looking to join in the Juneteenth festivities this year, here are some suggested ways to include your family in the celebration:
Learn the full history: While we gave an introductory lesson on Juneteenth in this post, we just scratched the surface of the history surrounding this day. Learn more by
reading Juneteenth books for kids:
The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini
The History of Juneteenth: A History Book for New Readers by Arlisha Norwood PhD
Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free: The True Story of the Grandmother of Juneteenth by Alice Faye Duncan
All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom by Angela Johnson
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper
watching Juneteenth educational videos:
What is Juneteenth, and why is it important? by TED-ed
Juneteenth for Kids by Seed of Melanin Kids
Celebrating Juneteenth Read Aloud by KidTimeStoryTime
completing Juneteenth printable activities: Download the new free 5-page Juneteenth printable pack from Homeschool.com here!
Celebrate: There are many ways to celebrate Juneteenth in your homeschool. Some may include:
Create a Juneteenth flag – The Juneteenth flag represents pride and freedom, and is made of 3 stripes: red, black, and green. Get out the craft supplies and have some fun! You can make a flag with craft sticks and color or paint the stripes, paint the stripes onto painting paper with cotton balls, or glue colored buttons to make the stripes. There are so many variations of this activity. Find the one that interests your kids and have fun!
Honor Juneteenth with your food – Serve your kids some red foods like red velvet cake, watermelon, strawberry pie, (and maybe even some hot chili peppers for the brave!) to honor the resilience of enslaved people. Have a traditional Southern meal for dinner like chicken, baked beans, deviled eggs, and maybe some tea cakes for dessert.
Have your kids think about and write down some positive changes that need to be made in our nation/state/communities and brainstorm ideas to bring about this change. To get their wheels turning, you can ask:
What matters most to you?
Is there something in our community you would like to see changed for the better?
Are there people you know who are mistreated?
What would it be like if everyone was safe and happy?
What is one thing you can do to make a difference, if not for the entire community, for one person?
Support Black-owned businesses: Visit websites like ByBlack and Nationally Black Owned to discover and connect with more black-owned businesses.
Acknowledge and spread the word: Make some banners or yard signs to decorate your home to show support in your neighborhood. You could also get your family and friends together, have a Juneteenth parade, and invite your neighbors to join. Better yet, orchestrate a neighborhood Juneteenth party! Everyone can dress up and bring a dish!
Donate to supportive organizations: If you’re looking to donate to a charity in support of Juneteenth, some to consider would be:
NAACP – National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
NBCDI – National Black Child Development Institute
NOBLE – National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
TMCF – Thurgood Marshall College Fund
Attend Juneteenth events: Search your local Facebook pages for events near you, or if you’re looking for larger celebrations, here are 14 places across the U.S. to celebrate Juneteenth.
The post Juneteenth Freedom Day first appeared on Homeschool .com.
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