5 Ways To Talk To Children About Juneteenth National Independence Day
June 19 is now officially Juneteenth National Independence Day, a US federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The day’s name is a blending of the words June and nineteenth. It commemorates June 19, 1865: the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told slaves of their emancipation. That day came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. Even after Lincoln declared all enslaved people free on paper, that hadn’t necessarily been the case in practice.
Juneteenth has often been overlooked by non-Black Americans and omitted from history books. However, momentum to recognize the occasion was generated by the Black Lives Matter movement last year. With President Joe Biden’s signature of the bill on June 17, 2021, Juneteenth is the first holiday to be approved since Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which was established in 1983.
Juneteenth was not in the school system nor was there a world-known celebrity as a spokesperson but the BLM movement brought the events of Juneteenth back to the mainstream conversation. Many millennials and young adults are shocked to find out about the history of Juneteenth, because it appears that it was hidden, like so many other notable stories of African Americans.
No matter the reasons for the previous lack of knowledge passed down; today, we can make a change. Young Black people continue to search for their identity and a community that affirms who we are in America. We must meet them where they are and give them what they need. Nelson Mandela said, “Children are our greatest treasure. They are our future.” Today our children need education; they need to learn the truth of their past and the possibilities of their future.
Raising a Black child in America today is not easy. There are so many crucial conversations to have. Many of these conversations can be a matter of life and death. There is no simple way to introduce the topics of racism, slavery, or the systematic discrimination Black people face in America. And even though this conversation will most certainly be challenging (filled with abstract concepts and incomprehensible methods), for black parents today, there is no time to avoid this conversation.
Compared to the birds and the bees talk, the conversation of race and learning your rights must be one that is had often, and honestly, with children.
America’s Independence Day has been readily accepted and celebrated by all. July fourth is the only Independence Day that is taught in schools and nationally observed by the government before Juneteenth became a holiday. The 4th of July is presented as an all-inclusive holiday, wrapped in patriotism and pride for the group. These are not facts. Most Black Americans only celebrate Independence Day on July fourth because they are miseducated and unaware.
Educate yourself on the history of Juneteenth!
5 tips on talking with children about Juneteenth and beyond:
- It is essential before any talk to check your own biases related to the topic. Don’t transfer negative personal experiences onto a child, stick with the facts.
- When talking with children about tough topics using metaphors or current-day examples can help form relatable associations.
- Meet the child where they are, meaning your lesson should always be age-appropriate. Use words the child can understand and don’t overwhelm them.
- Don’t be afraid to say “I don’t know!” Be open to search for information or watch new videos with the child.
- Always aim to leave the child feeling educated and empowered. Whenever possible, avoid leaving a child scared or confused.
Click here for a list of books on Juneteenth and related topics, i.e., Civil War, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, etc.
Spectacular Magazine will present the 16th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 19th on E. Main Street in downtown Durham (For GPS Purposes: 330 E. Main Street – Durham, NC 27701). The festival is much more than just a street fair…it is a celebration of a U.S. holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. The 16th Annual NC Juneteenth Celebration will feature a ceremony, performances by national and local recording artists, food trucks, a kids zone, health fair, vendors, exhibitors, fashion show, and more!
