Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when enslaved Texans first learned of their freedom as directed by the Emancipation Proclamation. Known also as America’s second Independence Day, the holiday has periodically been celebrated within African-American communities, but not recognized in the wider culture. That changed in 1980, when Texas established Juneteenth as a state holiday. Since then, many other states have followed suit in acknowledging the importance of this anniversary. Finally on June 17th, 2021, Juneteenth was established as a federal holiday.
Teaching about Juneteenth can be not only an exploration of American history and civil rights, but also a chance to inspire students’ reflections and creativity.
