Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery. On June 19, 1865, slaves in Galveston, Texas were told that they were emancipated and were free. This was two years after President Lincoln abolished slavery with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, but slavery was still practiced in many places. With the official announcement that slaves were freed by Union Army Major General Gordon Granger.
Juneteenth has grown in popularity over the years, and is truly symbolic this year because of what is currently going on in our country. Black people have been celebrating its importance, but especially now, Juneteenth is a holiday that can be honored and celebrated by everyone.
BCC would like to join in on the celebration of Juneteenth this Friday. Staff are encouraged to wear attire in support of Juneteenth and black history. Each BCC location will have a celebratory menu to keep to the celebration going.
Below are some ways to celebrate Juneteenth that we shared with our staff and we hope you find the list inspiring:
- Read About It – Get more familiar with Juneteenth by reading books about it. You can also read books that share Black history as well.
- Movies and popcorn – Watch movies about the Black experience on streaming services. Amazon, Netflix, and Hulu are sharing free movies that can help you understand better the struggle of Black people in this country.
- Participate – Encourage your workplace to celebrate Juneteenth as well and create a display for the workplace that is Juneteenth centric.
- Wear It – Make or wear celebratory Juneteenth t-shirts or other celebratory attire that celebrates black history, black fraternities & sororities, HBCUs, Black Lives Matters, etc.
- Decorate – Put up decorations around your home inside and out to show your festive mood.
- Kiddos – Have your kids write a poem or a short story that is about Juneteenth.
- Activity sheets – Here are some great activity sheets for your children to help them learn more about Juneteenth. You might even learn some things, too.
- Recipes – Do you have a family recipe that has been passed down from generations? Why not make it on Juneteenth with your family?
- New Traditions – Create a new family tradition that can be passed down to the next generation. Make it Juneteenth specific.
- Virtual Tour – Take a 30-min, virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Slavery and Freedom exhibit.
No matter what ethnicity you are, celebrating Juneteenth is important to us all, as it is a part of our history. I hope the list above inspires you to join the celebrations on Freedom Day.