Juneteenth - What, Why and How

It wasn’t until June 19, 1865, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, that the Union army brought news of the end of slavery to enslaved people in Galveston, Texas. Through the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln declared freedom to all enslaved people in states rebelling against the United States, provided protection for those who had escaped slavery and invited freed slaves to join the Union Army. Since 1866, a growing number of Americans celebrate Juneteenth on June 19. In 1979, Texas became the first state to officially acknowledge the holiday, and in 2021, Juneteenth became the newest U.S. federal holiday. Many resources and perspectives offer ways to celebrate or commemorate Juneteenth with children and engage with racial equity and social justice issues, including: Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture — scroll down to see NMAAHC Kids PDF: Understanding & Celebrating Juneteenth 9 Ways to Honor Juneteenth with Children Texas Observes Juneteenth Social Justice Print and PDF Resources from Exchange Press Social Justice and Racial Equity resources available on Ed.Flicks Video Clip Library, including Exploring Social Justice with Young Children If you are commemorating Juneteenth in your program, share your stories with us in the comments below.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site