Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration commemorating the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free! While over forty states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, many think it should be a national holiday. Read more about why we should consider this.
- Reflections on Juneteenth from Pastor Harvey Drake:
https://www.urbanimpactseattle.org/blog/2018/6/19/reflections-from-harvey-drake-juneteenth-a-valuable-story-of-freedom - Would you like to teach your children about Juneteenth? Check out this beautifully illustrated picture book that explains what Juneteenth is all about as a father shares family history and national history with his young daughter Mazie.
https://www.belpresjustice.org/learning-resources/books/juneteenth-for-mazie - While over forty states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, many think it should be a national holiday. Read more about why we should consider this: https://thewitnessbcc.com/why-juneteenth-should-be-a-national-holiday/