Juneteenth 2021
Celebrate this holiday by exploring the history of emancipation events, and the importance of remembering the end of slavery.
ACWM Blog Posts
Organizations and Partnerships
The Elegba Folklore Society offers the best in African Diasporic cultural experiences, promoting an understanding of the present by valuing the past. Check out their Juneteenth, A Freedom Celebration, Virginia’s flagship Juneteenth holiday commemoration.
Between Juneteenth and the Fourth of July, explore activities and program that are expanding the lens, making space for more stories from the past, more voices from the present, and more input on what an annual tradition for civic participation could look like.
Watch
A Conversation with Annette Gordon-Reed: The Gilder Lehrman Institute brings together Professor Annette Gordon-Reed and Dr. Ed Ayers to discuss her Pulitzer Prize-winning book, On Juneteenth.
This is Why Juneteenth is Important for America: This video from The Root chronicles the history of Juneteenth and argues that the holiday isn’t just about commemorating the end of slavery, but the continued determination and resilience of African Americans in the face of oppression.
Read
On Juneteenth: The new book by historian Annette Gordon-Reed — part history, part memoir — about the history, relevance, and evolution of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture compiled resources about the history of Juneteenth, its significance, and its celebration. Includes links to tools for genealogical research, recipes, African American folktales, family activities, and recording of a guided tour by former museum director Lonnie Bunch.
What is Juneteenth?: Henry Louis Gates, Jr. details the events of June 19, 1865, other early observances of freedom celebrations, and evolutions of those celebrations in a blog post on PBS. Also, check this summary, “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom” from the Library of Virginia’s Uncommonwealth project.
Listen
Today, Explained: Happy Juneteenth!: UCLA’s Brenda Stevenson explains the history and relevance of the Juneteenth holiday in this 2018 podcast episode from Vox.
“Henceforth Free: The Emancipation Proclamation” and “1865: United States of Uncertainty”: Two 2015 episodes from the podcast/radio series BackStory explore more of the history of emancipation and the end of the Civil War.
Celebrate
- June 15: 10 museums from around the country collaborate on #blkfreedom, a virtual series of programs celebrating Juneteenth. Their website also includes recordings of the 2020 program, historical documents, and additional resources.
- June 18: The Levine Museum of the New South’s 2021 Juneteenth Virtual Family Day Celebration presents three original African American stage readings of perseverance and love, including dance performances, history, and more.
- June 19: At the Cortland Festival Park in Appomattox, Appomattox for Equality will be hosting its second-annual Juneteenth: United in Hope. You can enjoy food trucks, live music, speakers, and other family activities from 11 AM–3PM.
- June 19: Prince George’s County Parks & Recreation Juneteenth 2021 Celebration is a hybrid virtual/in-person series of performances, panel discussions, and art for the whole family.
- Throughout June: Juneteenth at the Atlanta History Center includes month-long virtual programming celebrating the traditions and achievements of African American culture.
- Throughout June: James Madion’s Montpelier and the Orange County African American Historical Society are collaborating on a month-long virtual celebration to “honor our ancestors and celebrate African American history, food, music, faith, family, and freedom!”
- Various dates: Essence spotlights 31 Juneteenth events from around the country.