With colorful illustrations and a timeline, this introductory
history of Juneteenth for kids details the evolution of the holiday
commemorating the date the last enslaved people learned of their
freedom.
On
June 19, 1865—more than two years after President Lincoln’s
Emancipation Proclamation—enslaved Texans finally learned they were
free. That day became a day of remembrance and celebration that
changed and grew from year to year.
Learn
about the events that led to emancipation and why it took so long for
the enslaved people in Texas to hear the news. The first Juneteenth
began as “Jubilee Day,” where families celebrated and learned of
their new rights as citizens. As Black Texans moved to other parts of
the country, they brought their traditions along with them, and
Juneteenth continued to grow and develop.
Today,
Juneteenth’s powerful spirit has endured through the centuries to
become an official holiday in the United States in 2021. The
Juneteenth Story provides an accessible introduction for kids to
learn about this important American holiday.