Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.
From its Galveston, Texas origin in 1865, the observance of June 19th as the African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond.
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society. –from Juneteeth.com
Check out these resources for more information on Juneteenth:
- Juneteenth.com
- The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth | National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Google Arts and Culture | Pictorial | The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth by the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Freedom Songs | YouTube Playlist
- Five Pieces of Juneteenth Art We Adore
- 19 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth as a Family [written by a former student] 🙂
Have a safe and happy weekend…
Pics and Posts 
thank you for the information about Juneteenth, long overdue.
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You’re welcome, Martha. And thanks for reading. I thought about a different Juneteenth post, but thought maybe, a basic informational was necessary.
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I had never heard of Juneteenth until a few months ago. Thank you for sharing the historical data & ways to respectfully observe the day.
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I’m sometimes surprised and sometimes not surprised by how few have heard of the holiday, It shows the deep holes in the American education. Thank you for reading and appreciating the post.
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Not only in the American education. I had never heard of it until this year.
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Any outcome, short of what people with conscience want, is pretty freaking terrifying.
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Gosh. Yes.
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Thanks for sharing Chandra! Eager to read and listen… 🙂
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Yay! Hugs…
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Thank you and a belated Happy Juneteenth to you. Thanks for this post. I celebrated in two ways; in the afternoon I attended a rally/demonstration/presentation near downtown Fort Collins. Then last night my wife and I watched the Ava Duvernay documentary “13th”. Jaw-dropping and gut-wrenching, at the same time.
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You’re braver than I am. I haven’t been able to watch that or any of the other recent films. I have a difficult time shaking things that make me feel intensely–nightmares and all–so I stay away as much as possible. Sometimes, it’s hard to, especially with my students.
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A beautiful post! Happy Juneteenth.
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Thank you!
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Reblogged this on Pics and Posts and commented:
Juneteenth (National Independence Day) has been signed into law as a federal (national) holiday, today is a good day to (re)visit the links in this post…
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