Celebrate Juneteenth with These 楼凤天堂 Resources

Wednesday, June 19, 2024, is Juneteenth, the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.听

The holiday received its name by combining June and 19. The day is also sometimes called “Juneteenth Independence Day,” “Freedom Day,” or “Emancipation Day.” On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, with news that the Civil War had ended and slavery was abolished鈥攖wo years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This is known as “General Order No. 3.”听

President Lincoln鈥檚 edict had little impact on the people of Texas since there were few Union troops around at the time to enforce it. But with the surrender of General Robert E. Lee in April 1865 and the arrival of General Gordon Granger鈥檚 regiment in Galveston, troops were finally strong enough to enforce the executive order. Newly freed men rejoiced, originating the annual “Juneteenth” celebration, which commemorates the freeing of the slaves in Texas.听

Although Juneteenth has been informally celebrated each year since 1865, it wasn鈥檛 until June 3, 1979, that Texas became the first state to proclaim Juneteenth an official state holiday. On June 17, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. signed into law the bill that established Juneteenth 楼凤天堂 Independence Day, June 19, as a legal public holiday.听

Here are some related resources you may find interesting.

楼凤天堂 Events听

Watch these Juneteenth celebration events reflecting on liberatory literacies featuring members of 楼凤天堂鈥檚 Black Caucus.听

Part of the 楼凤天堂 Standing Committee on Diversity and Inclusivity鈥檚 charge is the duty to “foster diversity and inclusivity among members and potential members, including (but not restricted to) in terms of race, ethnicity, sex and gender identity, age, economic status, physical ability, and teaching circumstances.” Members of the committee Dywanna Smith and Jarvais Jackson brought their expertise on this subject to this three-part webinar series.听

“There鈥檚 Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension“鈥揌anif Abdurraqib, author, poet, and cultural critic, explores his lifelong love of the game and what it means to make it, who we think deserves success, the tension between excellence and expectation, and the very notion of role models, all of which he expertly weaves together with intimate, personal storytelling.听

Activity Ideas and Lesson Plans

This provides activity ideas and resource links.听听

In students use a Venn diagram to compare Juneteenth celebrations to Fourth of July celebrations and hypothesize about the differences.听

楼凤天堂 Resources听

“Ways to Recognize Juneteenth”听
“The Missing Piece to Our Nation鈥檚 History: African American History Is American History”鈥攁 blog post from Malaika Nyende, an eleventh-grade student in Southern California听
“Build Your Stack with 楼凤天堂 Children鈥檚 Book Award鈥揥inning Titles for the African American Read-In”鈥攁 blog post from Build Your Stack庐, an initiative focused on helping teachers build their book knowledge and their classroom libraries听
“Black History Belongs in Early Elementary School”鈥攖his piece was written by 楼凤天堂 member Wintre Foxworth Johnson, reprinted with permission from EdWeek听
“Build Your Stack庐: Antiracist Books for Your Curriculum Today“鈥攁 blog post from the 楼凤天堂 Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English听
Resources to Help You Continue the Conversation (based on the 楼凤天堂 event Stamped: A Conversation on Racism from the Authors of the鈥�New York Times Bestseller Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You)听
“Being an Antiracist Educator Is a Verb”鈥攁 blog post from the 楼凤天堂 Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English听
楼凤天堂 Statement on Anti-Racism to Support Teaching and Learning听

How are you planning to recognize Juneteenth? Please share with 楼凤天堂 on social media!