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What is Juneteenth and Why is it Important?
Juneteenth is a United States national holiday that celebrates the emancipation of those who had been enslaved in the United States. Originating in Galveston, Texas, it is now celebrated every year on June 19 throughout the United States
Why is Juneteenth Called Juneteenth?
Juneteenth (June 19th) is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” refers to the date of the holiday, which combines the words “June” and “nineteenth.”
Is Juneteenth a Holiday?
The US Senate has unanimously passed a bill to make Juneteenth, the day that marks the end of slavery in the United States, a federal holiday. Juneteenth marks the day on 19 June 1865 when enslaved black people in Texas learned they had been freed.
Here are seven books to learn more about the history of Juneteenth for kids.
All Different Now by Angela Johnson –Through the eyes of one little girl, All Different Now tells the story of the first Juneteenth, the day freedom finally came to the last of the slaves in the South. Since then, the observance of June 19 as African American Emancipation Day has spread across the United States and beyond. This stunning picture book includes notes from the author and illustrator, a timeline of important dates, and a glossary of relevant terms.
The Ultimate Juneteenth Activity Book for Kids and Young Scholars by K.S. Daniels –This activity book is packed with fascinating facts about the history of Juneteenth and the Black American experience in the USA and shows why they should be preserved for future generations to explore in more depth.
Juneteenth Book for Kids : Liberty and Justice For All by Green Owl — Are you ready to celebrate freedom ?? Are your Kids ready to celebrate a great day in American history? The day her ancestors were no longer slaves. This book will definitely help you because inside you will find :
- A short history of Juneteenth (understandable for kids)
- A lot of activities such as: my reflection, question about juneteenth, text to be completed, word search and crossword
Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper — Mazie is ready to celebrate liberty. She is ready to celebrate freedom. She is ready to celebrate a great day in American history. The day her ancestors were no longer slaves. Mazie remembers the struggles and the triumph, as she gets ready to celebrate Juneteenth.
Juneteenth (On My Own Holidays) by Drew Nelson — une 19th, 1865, began as another hot day in Texas. Enslaved African Americans worked in fields, in barns, and in the homes of the white people who owned them. Then a message arrived. Freedom! Slavery had ended! The Civil War had actually ended in April. It took two months for word to reach Texas. Still the joy of that amazing day has never been forgotten. Every year, people all over the United States come together on June 19th to celebrate the end of slavery. Join in the celebration of Juneteenth, a day to remember and honor freedom for all people.
The Story of Juneteenth: An Interactive History Adventure by Steven Otfinoski — The Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War have brought an official end to slavery, yet some Southern slave owners are refusing to comply. The road to freedom is still long and hard for many African Americans, but you’re not giving up. Will you: Overcome obstacles as you make your way north from Texas, looking to begin a new life of freedom? Seek out your family, from whom you were separated as a child, after emancipation? Fight back when you take work as an apprentice but find that you’re still treated as a slave? YOU CHOOSE offers multiple perspectives on history, supporting Common Core reading standards and providing readers a front-row seat to the past.
Juneteenth Jamboree by Carole Boston Weatherford — Joining her parents in a community celebration of Juneteenth, Cassie learns about the day when slaves in Texas were freed some two years after the Emancipation Proclamation and wonders why the news took so long to reach them.