This is a series where I give an outline of a social movement, and provide resources with links for you to dive into!
Tap any image to learn more!
But on June 19, 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 to inform enslaved people that they were free and that the Civil War was officially over.
Opal Lee, a longtime activist and advocate for Juneteenth to become a national holiday, is one of the leaders of the effort, with her Change.org petition for the cause gaining over 1.5 million signatures.
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.Tap any book cover to learn!
Two picture books about Juneteenth
Kids
Grownups
In 1979, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official holiday!
"For adults, having a better understanding of slavery and its function in the American economy sets the stage for an appreciation of Juneteenth," Dr. Beverly Tatum, psychologist and author...told USA TODAY.
The Juneteenth Legacy Project aims to recontextualize Juneteenth as a pivotal moment in the arc of U.S. history while properly telling the story of its genesis, and historical and contemporary relevance.
Especially if you're looking for some new books to read...