What Does Juneteenth Celebrate? The History of the Holiday

Here's what we shared on June 18, 2020:

June 19th, 1865 was the day when enslaved African Americans in the western most part of the Union (Galveston, Texas) were told of the Emancipation Proclamation. While not technically the date of slavery’s end, Juneteenth (combination of June and nineteenth) was adopted as the day to celebrate emancipation. After all, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued a full two years before every last enslaved American was told of their status. Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated and the 13th Amendment was moving towards ratification by the Senate by the time Union troops liberated all Confederate areas. Because of this, Juneteenth celebrations serve as a reminder that until everyone is free, no one is free.

Juneteenth has long been celebrated all over the country even though many outside of Texas don’t recall learning about it in school. Now, in this sixth month of the non-stop stunner that is 2020, the country finds itself in a period of education and reckoning of the racism embedded in its birth. This education includes learning about Juneteenth.

Last year, we shared a collection of videos from local stations that showed how their communities observe Juneteenth. This year's celebrations will be different, since many states and cities remain under social distancing restrictions. However you celebrate this June 19th, here are stories to watch if you want to learn more about the historical context for today's conversations around racism, freedom, and the long shadow of slavery.

Many more Americans have learned about Juneteenth and an increasing number of companies and organizations have announced they will observe the day as a holiday. Nike, Twitter, and PBS are just a few of the companies that have done so. Just this week, New York and Virginia announced Juneteenth would be a paid holiday for state employees.

You can take a look at PBS NewsHour's coverage of Juneteenth and how it fits into the larger conversation about race and racism in America.

Parents who are learning about Juneteenth for the first time can take this opportunity to teach their children about it, as well. We shared this excellentJuneteenth video from PBS Learning Media series "All About The Holidays" last year and it will be just as helpful this year.

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