A few days ago was Juneteenth and as I was not online much, I did not get a post out about it. My post here will be brief, but I was thinking about it especially in relation to America’s 250th birthday and the fact that many of our clients have grandchildren. Some people may uncomfortable with talking about it because they don’t really understand it. While Juneteenth has been celebrated for many years, it is a relatively new federal holiday.
Learn About the History
When the Emancipation Proclamation was originally signed, it only freed slaves in Confederate territory. Since the Confederate states were trying to secede, and they had their own governments, they were not advertising to their enslaved population that they had been freed. Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the enslaved people in the last pocket of the Confederacy had been freed. The Smithsonian National Museum of African American Culture and History has a great article about Juneteenth and the Emancipation Proclamation.
Educating the Kids in Your Life on Juneteenth
Kids should know about Juneteenth and their country’s history. If you’re unsure on how to broach the subject in an age-appropriate way, you can look up lessons by school teachers or content creators about Juneteenth. There are probably celebrations in your community about the holiday as well.
In all, Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom and perserverance. And even if it may be new to you, the black community has been celebrating this holiday for decades.
Written by Brigid Coffey
