Learn About and Celebrate Juneteenth
Juneteenth celebrations have widely expanded across the country since the day became a national holiday in 2021, when the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act was signed into law. Many more people than before know a little bit about the holiday, its history, and ongoing significance. For anyone looking to learn more, you came to right place.
Below are some programs that tell the history of Juneteenth and others that show the joy of communities coming together in celebrations of independence.
What is Juneteenth?
The holiday's origin story begins in Galveston, Texas, which was the western-most area of the Union in 1865. When enslaved people there were told of their emancipation on June 19, 1865, they had technically already been freed two-and-a-half years prior, when President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Slaveholders in Texas had kept the information to themselves, extending the period of violent exploitation of enslaved African Americans. The following year, in 1866, a celebration was had in Texas, the first Juneteenth observance to recognize freedom from slavery in the U.S.
When is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19th. The holiday's name is a combination of the words "June" and "nineteenth." It commemorates the day news of the Emancipation Proclamation (and their subsequent freedom from chattel slavery) reached enslaved people in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, three years after President Abraham Lincoln had issued the proclamation.
It is considered the longest-running holiday in African American and Black communities, and was often observed with community celebrations on the third Saturday in June. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 after the U.S. Congress passed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act.
Our friends at PBS KIDS for Parents have shared some great ideas if you're looking for ways to celebrate Juneteenth with your family.
Learn about Juneteenth foods, their meaning and African American culinary history. Plus find recipes for red foods that you can bring to your next Juneteenth celebration!
“The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired labor. The freedmen are advised to remain quietly at their present homes and work for wages. They are informed that they will not be allowed to collect at military posts and that they will not be supported in idleness either there or elsewhere.”
Further Reading
Dr. Henry Louis Gates gave us a comprehensive history of Juneteenth as part of the series: The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross. Explore the timeline and his own insights on the importance of the holiday.
Meaning and history of the Juneteenth flag
The flag we see today is the work of artist Lisa Jeanne Graf, who modified the original Juneteenth flag created in 1997 by Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF).
The Juneteenth flag is red, white, and blue. We see the same colors as the USA flag to acknowledge that formerly enslaved people and their descendants are Americans. There is an arc across the flag, symbolizing a new horizon and hope for the future. The star at the flag’s center is a nod to Texas, the Lone Star State, where Juneteenth was first celebrated. The burst outlining the star suggests a new star, a new beginning. The date of the first Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) is often added to the flag, as well.
Juneteenth Jamboree | Austin PBS
Texas (and much of the U.S.) commemorates Emancipation Day as Juneteenth. This series delves into the history of the holiday, and celebrates black culture and art.
See past Juneteenth Jamboree films from Austin PBS.
More Juneteenth documentaries to stream
Our friends (you know, like local PBS stations and documentary producers) always, we mean always, have great collections of films to offer.
In commemoration of Juneteenth, and to honor Black history, freedom and achievement, WORLD Channel invites you to stream films that champion Black stories, rights and the continuing fight for equality.
You can watch even more programs and documentaries that explore the Black experience in the U.S. in our Honoring Juneteenth playlist - now streaming on the PBS app.
Juneteenth | Say It Loud
Learn the origin of Juneteenth and look at the parallels of Black liberation work around Reconstruction and Black liberation work, today. This episode focuses on 3 areas of “Fine Print”: Voter Suppression, Mass Incarceration, and Policing with a special highlight on the work of leaders pushing for change in these areas.
Slavery by Another Name
Slavery by Another Name is a 90-minute documentary that challenges one of Americans’ most cherished assumptions: the belief that slavery in this country ended with the Emancipation Proclamation. The film tells how even as chattel slavery came to an end in the South in 1865, thousands of African Americans were pulled back into forced labor with shocking force and brutality.
Explore the Official siteHighlights from previous years' Juneteenth documentaries
Here's what we shared on Juneteenth, 2021:
This year, many communities either learned about Juneteenth for the first time or gathered cautiously as the COVID-19 pandemic continued into its second year. Here are some of the local programs that highlight Black voices across the country in celebration of Juneteenth.
From PBS 39: Juneteenth Lehigh Valley, PBS 39's coverage of their community celebration.
From PBS North Carolina's Black Issues Forum: Juneteenth episode in which Moses Greene of the North Carolina Museum of Art talks about increasing visitor diversity at the museum.
From GBH's Basic Black: a Juneteenth episode featuring guests: Annette Gordon-Reed, Harvard Univ. and author of, “On Juneteenth,” L’Merchie Frazier, MAAH museum, Dr. Kellie Carter Jackson, Wellesley College, Imari Paris Jeffries, King Boston..
From WQPT in Moline, Illinois: Juneteenth: A Celebration was inspired by the the Friends of MLK Juneteenth Quad Cities Committee.
From Iowa PBS:
This program features an array of musical performances, including the worldwide premiere of “Bluebird,” a new song by The Finesse and an exclusive performance from the Isiserettes.
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.
Here's what we shared on June 19, 2019:
Juneteenth is the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the confederate states. The word "Juneteenth" is a combination of "June" and "nineteenth," which is the day in 1865 when the Union Army established authority over Texas. It was the date that the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached the freed slaves in one of the furthest edges of the Union at the time. Although the annual celebration began there, it is widely recognized in communities across the United States. Celebrations are as varied as our individual experiences, but they share the same message of freedom's joy at heart.
How do you celebrate Juneteenth in you community?
KQED in San Francisco, California has photos from Berkeley's Juneteenth festival. It has been held annually since 1986 (save once in 2008) and has come to commemorate not only black history and traditions, but also the preservation of community in light of increasing displacement.
From Milwaukee PBS' Black Nouveau: Black Nouveau visits Milwaukee's 48th Juneteenth Celebration. We capture events from the Parade, talk with vendors and attendees about the event.
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