For some, the information below will be an introduction to a celebrated day in American history by Black people, for others it will be an honorable acknowledgement of an ugly truth in American history. This information is intended to: educate, honor and acknowledge the history of June 19, 1865 commonly known in the black community as Juneteenth.
3 key highlights
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- The Emancipation Proclamation was signed on June 1, 1863. But the news of it took over 2 years to spread.
- On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Texas to share that the war had ended, and to enforce the abolition of slavery.
- Also known as Freedom Day, Juneteenth is a state holiday in Texas and is celebrated by communities across the country.
Some things you can do to commemorate Juneteenth:
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- Take time to educate yourself on modern-day systemic racism
- Support Black owned restaurants and businesses
- Explore Black excellence in art, literature, film, music, and more
- Commit to an action step that will help create positive change for the Black community
Juneteenth has been largely excluded from school curriculums, as a result of the whitewashing of American history. It is imperative to recognize the importance of this holiday, as part of educating ourselves on the realities of slavery and acknowledging racial injustice.
For more detailed information about Juneteenth please use this LINK.