Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day or Freedom Day, commemorates June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and gave the enslaved people there the news of their freedom. It was more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
“Juneteenth is sometimes called America's second independence day and marks the day slavery was ended in America,” explained MAELS senior JR Volonzo.
“A union general read Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation which brought a complete end to slavery,” said MAELS senior Lilia Dominguez. “It took a while for slavery to end after the Emancipation was written. Not only did news travel slow but farmers in the South wanted to continue enslaving Black people. Now, Juneteenth will become a national holiday to recall the past, and the history of the enslaved.”
“Juneteenth honors the freedom and experiences of the enslaved,” shared MAELS senior Ardita Mujaj. “The enslaved people endured a painful and difficult experience for far too long. This day celebrates their culture, perseverance and resilience.”
“It’s a day where ALL Americans became free,” added sixth grade Summer J.
Traditionally, Juneteenth is celebrated like the Fourth of July, with picnics and parties with family and friends. Foods like red velvet cake, red strawberry soda and red punch always made appearances. For a long time, relatives told younger ones that the red symbolized the blood of the millions of enslaved people who had suffered and died.
The holiday has long been celebrated in Texas and in Black communities nationwide. Texas was the first state to declare Juneteenth an official state holiday. It finally became a federal holiday in June 2021 when President Biden signed a bill establishing June 19th as Juneteenth National Independence day.
“I feel so happy that Juneteenth is finally being recognized as a federal holiday!” cheered sixth grade Riley R.
“Juneteenth is very important and I wish I would have learned about it sooner and I wanna learn all the information about Juneteenth,” expressed 6th grade Giavanna R.
“I now understand the significance of Juneteenth and how important it is to honor it,” chimed MAELS senior Tristan P. “I wonder why it hasn’t been talked about in schools sooner and why the information wasn’t taught to students!”
In honor of continuing discussions about race and honoring the history of Black Americans at MAELS, students engaged in class conversations about the significance of this holiday. Ms. Mattina, the 8th grade Social Studies teacher, expressed that teaching students about Juneteenth is an opportunity to lift on Black achievement and liberation, while also talking to students about the history of the enslavement of people of color and their everyday resistance and fight for freedom.
“If we want students to question the actions of government and create an equitable society that respects and honors the lived experiences of all communities, events such as Juneteenth must be a part of our curriculum,” continued Ms. Mattina. “As a teacher, it was rewarding to have this conversation with our students, and to reflect on the meaning of Juneteenth and the importance of honoring this now federal holiday!”
“I really enjoyed our Juneteenth lesson today! I’ve heard of Juneteenth before but I never understood what it was until we discussed it in class today,” cheered sixth grade Ava S.
“I feel so positive about this,” added sixth grade Rovan A. “People have been fighting so hard for this holiday to become a thing and it’s finally happening!”
As upstanders and advocates for social justice, MAELS students continue to name their role in uplifting Black achievement and promoting racial equity in our society.
“My role to help lift up Black achievement is to make a statement by spreading the word,” chimed sixth grade Kiara Torres. “Racism still exists in our world today and we can change that by continuing to have dialogues with others through facts. I can promote racial equity in our society by sharing facts on social media platforms, and even in real-life by sharing it with friends and family!”
“My role in lifting up Black achievement is to join in on the celebration!” says sixth grade Victoria S. “And, of course, to teach others about Juneteenth so they can also understand our history and also celebrate it!”
“My role will be to celebrate holidays such as Juneteenth,” added MAELS senior Jeffrey S. “I will continue to fight against racism by being an upstander. I will call out other’s racism and their stereotypes against Black people.”
Today Juneteenth commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Whether you are celebrating today or reflecting on our hard history, we see you, we hear you, we are with you. We join you in critical reflection of our past, celebration of black achievements today and the creation of a more beautiful anti-racist world.