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On June 19, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger told the people in Texas that all slaves were now free. Although President Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves two years earlier, word had not yet reached Texas. Juneteenth — a word that combines "June" and "nineteenth" — became the celebration of the end of slavery.

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The online portal to the records held at the National Archives, and information about those records.

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Jayylen's Juneteenth Surprise

by Lavaille Lavette

Published 2023

Want to read a copy of this? Look here.

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Jayylen’s Juneteenth Surprise | Kids Read Aloud Books | Juneteenth Read Alouds | Black Boy Joy

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A Flag for Juneteenth

by Kim Taylor

Published 2023

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A Flag for Juneteenth | Kids Read Aloud Books | Juneteenth Read Alouds | Juneteenth For Kids

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Opal Lee and What It Means to Be Free

by Alice Faye Duncan

Published 2021-22

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Opal Lee & What it Means to be Free | Kids Read Aloud Books | Storytime | Juneteenth

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Juneteenth: Our Day of Freedom

by Sharon Dennis Wyeth

Published 2022

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“Learn more about Juneteenth, a holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States in this Step 3 History Reader”--

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Juneteenth for Mazie

By Floyd Cooper

Published 2015

From the publisher: 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.

You can also read the e-book or listen to the audiobook.

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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.

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A Juneteenth Cookbook: Fun and Easy Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families

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A Juneteenth Cookbook: Fun and Easy Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families

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A Juneteenth Cookbook: Fun and Easy Recipes and Activities for Kids and Families

by Alliah L. Agostini

Published 2024

From the publisher: "A Juneteenth Celebration Cookbook introduces the history of Juneteenth to kids through vibrant recipes, activities, and games drawn from Black American cultural traditions."

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A Juneteenth celebration cookbook : fun & easy recipes and activities for kids and families

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“A Juneteenth Celebration Cookbook introduces the history of Juneteenth to kids through vibrant recipes, activities, and games drawn from Black American cultural traditions”--

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What Is Juneteenth?

by Kirsti Jewell

Published 2022

From the publisher: "On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered around a Union solder and listened as he read the most remarkable words they would ever hear. They were no longer enslaved: they were free. The inhumane practice of forced labor with no pay was now illegal in all of the United States. This news was cause for celebration, so the group of people jumped in excitement, danced, and wept tears of joy. They did not know it at the time, but their joyous celebration of freedom would become a holiday—Juneteenth—that is observed each year by more and more Americans.
Author Kirsti Jewel shares stories from Juneteenth celebrations, both past and present, and chronicles the history that led to the creation of this joyous day.
With 80 black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ!"

You can also read the e-book or listen to the audiobook.

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Discover more about Juneteenth, the important holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered around a Union solder and listened as he read the most remarkable words they would ever hear. They were no longer enslaved: they were free. The inhumane practice of forced labor with no pay was now illegal in all of the United States. This news was cause for celebration, so the group of people jumped in excitement, danced, and wept tears of joy. They did not know it at the time, but their joyous celebration of freedom would become a holiday—Juneteenth—that is observed each year by more and more Americans.
Author Kirsti Jewel shares stories from Juneteenth celebrations, both past and present, and chronicles the history that led to the creation of this joyous day.
With 80 black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ!

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A Kids Book About Juneteenth

by Garrison Hayes

Published 2024

From the publisher: "Our history echoes with events which, over time, have become hidden, yet are important to all of us. Juneteenth is a celebration which recognizes the end of the enslavement of Black people in America. This book opens a door to understanding our history and celebrating our future--together."

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“Our history echoes with events which, over time, have become hidden, yet are important to all of us. Juneteenth is a celebration which recognizes the end of the enslavement of Black people in America. This book opens a door to understanding our history and celebrating our future--together”--

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All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

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All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

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All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom

by Angela Johnson

Published 2014

From the publisher: "In 1865, members of a family start their day as slaves, working in a Texas cotton field, and end it celebrating their freedom on what came to be known as Juneteenth."

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All different now : Juneteenth, the first day of freedom

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In 1865, members of a family start their day as slaves, working in a Texas cotton field, and end it celebrating their freedom on what came to be known as Juneteenth.

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Music and Social Justice Artist Fyütch leads an interactive writing activity inspired by Juneteenth and performs a few songs.

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Music and Social Justice Artist Fyütch leads an interactive writing activity inspired by Juneteenth and performs a few songs.

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by Seed of Melanin Kids!

Join us for Seed of Melanin School 🏫 as we learn about the history behind the celebration of June 19th or Juneteenth!

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Juneteenth for Kids! | History for Kids | Seed of Melanin Kids!

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From the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

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From National Geographic Kids

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On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, with an announcement: Enslaved people there were free.

People from Africa had been enslaved in the United States since 1619. By the 1770s, people strongly disagreed over the issue of slavery. Many people in the northern Union states wanted to abolish, or end, slavery. In the southern Confederate states, white people relied on enslaved people to farm their crops and did not want it to end.

By 1861, 11 southern states had decided to secede, or withdraw, from the nation over disagreements over slavery and each state's right to allow it. This is what started the Civil War in 1861.

When he first announced the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln officially ended the enslavement of people halfway through the Civil War. The declaration called for people to be freed on January 1, 1863. However, the announcement didn't immediately lead to freedom because the Union army still needed to win the war.

The beginning of the end of slavery

On April 9, 1865, the Confederate army surrendered; the Union army was victorious, and the Civil War was over. Because of Lincoln's earlier declaration ending slavery, that meant enslaved people could claim their freedom. But many slave owners didn't want to see this change come.

For instance, leaders in Texas still followed the state's Confederate constitution, which stated that no laws could be passed freeing enslaved people, even though the Confederacy had lost the war. That's one reason why Granger and his Union army came to Texas more than two months after the end of the war-and over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation-to make sure slave owners were following the new law and letting enslaved people go free.

To spread the word about freedom, Granger and more than 2,000 Union soldiers marched to public buildings and even a church to read the General Order, No. 3., part of which declared:

"The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free."

Later that year, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was passed into law to officially abolish the practice of slavery after nearly 250 years of it in the United States. Even after passage, the law often had to be enforced in many former slave states by federal agents.

Beyond Texas, enslaved people were granted freedom at different times, but it's still June 19 that many people celebrate as a "second Independence Day."

From proclamation to celebration

Soon after Granger's announcement, newly freed Black people around Texas organized and purchased park land for annual celebrations for what was now called "Juneteenth," a mashup of the month and day of Granger's news. Owning land was something that enslaved African Americans were never allowed to do, so having a place set aside to celebrate their freedom was a powerful symbol of their new status.

The holiday quickly spread to other Black communities throughout the country. People gathered for church services, concerts, parades, and picnics with traditional tea cakes and bright red hibiscus iced tea. The day has been celebrated by generations of families, and some historians think the modern Juneteenth tradition of having red-colored foods, like strawberry soda, watermelon, and red velvet cake, was inspired by those early celebrations.

Until recently, a few states-including Texas, New York, and Virginia-observed Juneteenth as an official state holiday, and state employees had the day off. But now it's a national holiday for everyone. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making June 19 a federal holiday. It's the first new one since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was declared in 1983.

People across the country celebrate Juneteenth by gathering with family and friends for parties, parades, cookouts, rodeos, and readings of the Emancipation Proclamation.

(Learn more about Juneteenth at National Geographic.)

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The federal holiday celebrates the freedom of enslaved people at the end of the Civil War. Here's how it got its start.

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From Time for Kids

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On June 19, people across the United States celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S., in 1865.

Juneteenth is short for "June 19th." It was on that day, in June 1865, that 250,000 people in Galveston, Texas, found out they had been freed from slavery.

A Look at History

In 1860 and 1861, several Southern states declared their independence from the United States. This started the Civil War. The Southern Confederacy wanted to maintain slavery, while the Northern Union wanted to stop slavery from spreading to new territories.

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It declared freedom for enslaved people in the Confederacy. White slave owners kept the news a secret. Many enslaved people would not find out they had been freed until more than two years later.

In April 1865, the Confederacy surrendered to the Union. The war was over. On June 19, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the president's order. When they told the crowds that the state's 250,000 enslaved people were free, celebrations broke out.

Making a Holiday

Over the years, Black people from Galveston moved to different cities, and the celebration spread. It is also called Emancipation Day, or Freedom Day.

In the 1960s, the civil rights movement brought a wider awareness of Juneteenth. On June 19, 1968, two months after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a Solidarity Day rally was held on June 19 in Washington, D.C. The event drew 50,000 people.

Texas made Juneteenth a state holiday in 1980. Following international protests sparked by the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Juneteenth has gained even wider recognition. Juneteenth celebrations include religious services, cookouts, parades, and festivals featuring music and dancing. Now, 48 out of 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday.

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This story was originally published on June 15, 2021. It was updated on June 16, 2023. On June 19, people across the United States celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S., in 1865. Juneteenth is...

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Facts about thousands of subjects!

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Fact Monster - A Trusted Reference Site for Kids

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Fact Monster is a free reference site for students, teachers, and parents. Get homework help and find facts on thousands of subjects, including sports, entertainment, geography, history, biography, education, and health.

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Access information about Juneteenth and many other topics on Explora Primary Schools through JerseyClicks, accessible via the Maplewood Public Library website.

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A comprehensive suite of e-learning resources designed for all ages and abilities with articles, videos, educator tools, eBooks, research guides and more.

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Children’s Books to Celebrate Juneteenth Recommended by the Teen Reading Ambassadors | The New York Public Library

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Illuminating the lives of historic figures, honoring the resilience of Black culture, and affirming experiences of Black children.

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juneteenth - Brooklyn Public Library Booklist

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This booklist was made for patrons by Bay Ridge Children's librarian. Request your own customized reading list here: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/bookmatch.

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Galveston & Texas History Center: Juneteenth

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Galveston & Texas History Center: Juneteenth

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Juneteenth happened here, and the history has been preserved for all to learn from it.

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From the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.

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From the National Archives

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Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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WASHINGTON, June 17 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris signed a bill into law on Thursday to make June 19 a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, as the White House pushes to address the country's historical injustices.

The bill, which was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday after clearing the Senate unanimously, marks the day in 1865 when a Union general informed a group of enslaved people in Texas that they had been made free two years earlier by President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War.

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"Juneteenth marks both a long hard night of slavery subjugation and a promise of a brighter morning to come," Biden said. The day is a reminder of the "terrible toll that slavery took on the country and continues to take."

European colonists first forcibly brought enslaved Africans by ship to the British colonies that became the United States in the 1600s; millions of people were legally owned there until the 13th Amendment passed in 1865.

"Great nations don't ignore their most painful moments...they embrace them," Biden told a room filled with about 80 members of Congress, community leaders and activists including 94-year-old Opal Lee, who campaigned for decades to make Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Vice President Harris reminded the White House guests that they were gathered in a "house built by enslaved people," and said the holiday would be an occasion to "reaffirm and rededicate ourselves to action."

Juneteenth will be the eleventh federally recognized holiday, and the first in nearly four decades, following one honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.

Federal employees will start taking the holiday off this year, observing it on Friday since Juneteenth falls on Saturday, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management said on Twitter.

SERIOUS INEQUALITY REMAINS

Biden and his fellow Democrats are under pressure to respond to a slew of Republican-backed state bills that civil rights activists say aim to suppress voting by minorities, and to meaningfully address the disproportionate killing of Black men by police.

Some Republicans are also pushing state bills that discourage history teachers from focusing on the U.S.'s history of slavery and racism.

Many Republicans backed the Juneteenth bill in Congress; several of the over a dozen who opposed it said declaring a "Juneteenth National Independence Day" would needlessly divide or confuse Americans.

While celebrities and federal officials cheered the holiday's creation, some questioned whether it would have real impact on the country's deep-seated issues.

"It's important to commemorate emancipation and to encourage everyday Americans to reckon with the history of slavery ... but there is always a danger with these sort of things so they can be performative," said Matthew Delmont, a professor of history at Dartmouth College who specializes in African-American history and civil rights.

Designating Juneteenth a federal holiday will be a "failure" if it just acknowledges the date without spurring action on issues such as police brutality, voting rights, and the racial wealth gap, Delmont said.

The law comes a year after the United States was rocked by protests against racism and policing following the murder of George Floyd, an African-American man, by a Minneapolis police officer.

Biden said the administration has launched an "aggressive effort" to fight racial discrimination in housing, drive Black home ownership and offer resources to historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

"The promise for equality is not going to be fulfilled until it becomes real in our schools, on our main streets and in our neighborhoods," he said.

Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt and Heather Timmons Editing by Sonya Hepinstall

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab

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Biden signs 'Juneteenth' bill, asks U.S. to reflect on slavery's 'terrible toll'

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U.S. President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris signed a bill into law on Thursday to make June 19 a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans, as the White House pushes to address the country's historical injustices.

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Early Photographs of Juneteenth Celebrations

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Early Photographs of Juneteenth Celebrations

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From the Public Domain Review.

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Martha Yates Jones (left) and Pinkie Yates (right), daughters of Rev. Jack Yates, in a decorated carriage parked in front of the Antioch Baptist Church located in Houston's Fourth Ward, 1908 - Source

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Early Photographs of Juneteenth Celebrations

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Historical photographs of early Juneteenth celebrations throughout its home state of Texas and across the country.