Juneteenth Freedom Day

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JUNETEENTH
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On June 19th, the nation celebrates its youngest federal holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Juneteenth marks the events of June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas when the last Black slaves of the Confederacy were ordered free following the arrival of Union troops. Only in 1865 did the enslaved people there learn that they had been freed, two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.The resulting Juneteenth holiday — its name combining “June” and “nineteenth” — has grown in one-and-a-half centuries.Juneteenth is a day to recognize the painful legacy of slavery and honor the resilience of Black Americans whose forced labor helped build the United States. We reflect on the lives lost to slavery, segregation, and systemic racism, past and present. Juneteenth is both a day of remembrance and a call to action: to confront historical truths, uplift marginalized voices, and commit to justice, healing, and racial equity.Also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, Juneteenth rose to national prominence in 2020 amid nationwide protests against ongoing racial inequities, sparked in part by the police killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. It was officially recognized a federal holiday by President Joe Biden in 2021, expanding its recognition beyond Black America.

Is Juneteenth more of a solemn day of remembrance or a party?It depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and picnics. Originally celebrated as Black Americans’ true Independence Day, outdoor events allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as “Black Codes,” enforced in Confederate states. Codes controlled whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life.Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off.RESOURCESVIDEO Click on this link to watch a history of Juneteenth including the evolution of the Juneteenth flag.

CROSSWORD PUZZLE Click on this link Juneteenth_crosswordPuzzle to download and work on this puzzle to see how much you know about Juneteenth.

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