Juneteenth celebrations commemorate the final end of slavery in the United States. President Trump planned to hold a political rally on this celebration of freedom in Tulsa, the sight of one of the worst episodes of racial violence ever. Pressured by many, Trump rescheduled his rally to June 20th.
Read ArticleWashington Post, adapted by NewsELA
DeNeen Brown
6/18/2020
On June 19th, 1865, people in Texas were informed that slavery had ended in the United States. This happened more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, and months after General Robert E. Lee surrendered. Juneteenth has remained as an annual day to celebrate freedom.
Read ArticleHouston Chronicle, adapted by NewsELA
Andrew Dansby
10/31/2019
Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the arrival of the news of emancipation from slavery, has received increased attention and recognition this year. Juneteenth is not a replacement for justice and equality that Black people are still fighting for in the United States, but an important recognition and celebration of this struggle.
Read ArticleNew York Times
Gina Cherelus, Martha Jones, Toni Tipton-Martin & Emma Goldberg
6/19/2020
Juneteenth should be a national holiday as we continue the fight for freedom and justice. It should be a time to reflect on history and progress, learn, and empower the Black community.
Read ArticleBlack Lives Matter
6/17/2020
When President Trump announced his plan to hold a rally in Tulsa on June 19th, there was strong opposition; he did not recognize the significance of Juneteenth or honor the site of the 1921 race massacre in Tulsa. Advocates for Juneteenth hope that this moment in history, when more and more white people are recognizing ongoing racism in the United States, will help them make Juneteenth a national holiday.
Read ArticleTime
Olivia Waxman
6/17/2020
Some state and local governments and businesses recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. However, the federal government of the United States does not. Momentum for Juneteenth has increased as people learn more about the history of slavery and its ongoing impact on the lives of all Americans.
Read ArticleFast Company
Zlati Meyer
6/18/2020
Even after the end of slavery, as Black people accumulated more wealth, education, and power, there were still lynchings and racist violence. Juneteenth is the recognition that Black lives have been expunged through racist violence and that no one has been held accountable.
Read ArticleVox
6/19/2020
Many people do not know the history and meaning of Juneteenth, even though it’s been a celebrated holiday for more than a century. Juneteenth is a national cry to celebrate Black progress and continue the fight against racism.
Read ArticleThe Takeaway
Priscilla Alabi & Tanzina Vega
6/19/2018
Juneteenth is an important piece of our national memory, and deserves to be recognized as a nationwide holiday. Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, when Union troops arrived in Texas and freed enslaved people (two years after the Emancipation Proclamation). Recent racist killings have demonstrated that America cares too little about Black lives; recognizing Juneteenth is a good place to start in changing this recognition.
Read ArticleBustle
Lani Seelinger & Syeda Khaula Saad
6/17/2020
A group of Senate Democrats plan to introduce legislation to make June 19th Juneteenth National Independence Day. Juneteenth is a recognition of America’s racist history, a celebration of the progress that Black people have made, and a recommitment to the anti racist work that still needs to be done.
Read ArticleABC News
Jack Arnholz
6/19/2020
