What Is Juneteenth?
A teach-in with all the info you need to know about the history, significance, and joy of this day
Juneteenth celebrations can be performative if not coupled with tangible support for Black freedom. One material way you can celebrate Juneteenth is by becoming a paid subscriber today!
Juneteenth provides us the opportunity to remember and recreate the joy of freedom.
Specifically, it commemorates the freedom from race-based chattel slavery for Black people in the United States.
But now that Juneteenth is a national holiday, there is a risk.
The risk is that it becomes a hollow annual tradition devoid of passion or reflection.
One way to resist the dulling effects of repetition is to remind ourselves what Juneteenth is and why it is important.
A couple years ago, I conducted a Juneteenth Teach-In. I included all the essential info you need to know about the holiday:
The text of General Order No. 3 that General Granger read to enslaved people in Galveston, TX on June 19, 1865
Why it took so long for word of emancipation to spread
Three primary source reflections on the horrors of slavery to remind us why we needed emancipation in the first place
Why we need Juneteenth as a national holiday and some of the inherent risks
Why Black people should *celebrate* Juneteenth and why white people should *commemorate* it
Watch the Juneteenth Teach-In and be sure to subscribe to my new YouTube page.
Happy Juneteenth!
Learn More about Juneteenth
Why the Juneteenth Flag is Red, White, and Blue
It takes hours of research and fact-checking to bring you the little-known information in the article below. While some are busy trying to hide this history, you can help promote it. Become a paid subscriber today.
Why I Purposely Make Juneteenth a Day OFF, Not a Day On
This post is about rest. Your support helps me rest from the worry of whether I can sustain this work. Become a paid subscriber today.
How to Continue the Juneteenth Journey
For the first time in nearly four decades, we have a new federal holiday. On June17th, President Biden signed into law the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act. The law went into effect immediately and most federal employees had the day off in observance of the new holiday.
Before you celebrate Juneteenth, remember why we needed it in the first place.
Phew! Juneteenth is busy season! I’m glad to offer you this article below for reflection. But I’d really appreciate you supporting me in this work. Consider becoming a paid subscriber today!
Folks Will Mess Up Juneteenth...But That Doesn't Have to Be a Bad Thing
Our Footnotes community has grown to over 16,000 subscribers. We are in the top 10 in the “History” category among all writers. But only a tiny fraction of people who read these articles actually become paid subscribers. Would you consider supporting this work today?
Let's Make Juneteenth a Day OFF Not a Day ON for Black People
This whole article is about the need for Black people to rest. One of the ways you can help me build a sustainable life is by financially supporting this publication. Will you help me celebrate this Juneteenth by becoming a paid subscriber today?
The Emancipation Proclamation
My passion is to make history accessible. That takes study and a lot of time. Like, a lot. In this new year, you can support me in this endeavor by becoming a paid subscriber today!
Excellent presentation! I shared it with my children and many others.
Thanks for being "kind to the language" (9th lesson On Tyranny) around Juneteenth. I take a stab at it as well...
https://open.substack.com/pub/jonathanbrownson/p/from-juneteenth-to?r=gdp9j&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true