Honoring Juneteenth in the Classroom

This ain’t yo average party. The history of Juneteenth is tied to justice delayed and justice denied for Black people. This history has reigned over the Black, or African American experience in America. The name Juneteenth comes from the date, June 19, when the last enslaved people in Texas were told slavery in the United States was illegal, and enslaved Black people were “free.” When reflecting on justice delayed, the Emancipation Proclamation was effective as of January 1, 1863. On paper, the Emancipation Proclamation ended enslavement. However, word did not spread through the country. On June 19, 1865, Union army General Gordon Granger arrived Galveston, Texas, and read the executive orders that declared all enslaved people free. Celebrations took root and have existed since. Note, the delayed justice. Enslaved people waited more than two years to learn they had been freed. 

For 155 years, Black communities (especially in Texas) have celebrated Juneteenth. It’s not a typical barbecue celebration because it acknowledges our past is drenched in racism and oppression. However, it highlights the resilience and accomplishments of Black Americans in our society. It’s a “both/and” event. This was my quick synopsis of Juneteenth, but before implementing it in the classroom, learn about it. Don’t reduce it to the day Black people were “free” because that struggle continues. In learning, consider:

• What is Juneteenth?
• What makes Juneteenth important to Black Americans?
• Which contributions by Black Americans impact my daily life?
• What should white people do to honor Juneteenth? 
• What can white people and non Black people of color do to support the Black community?

Below are two videos to get started, but get academic and lean into primary sources. 

Our first celebration was driven by a student simply asking, “Why don’t we celebrate that?” after we watched and discussed parts of a Black-ish episode. In that moment, I facilitated a conversation with the students about whether or not they wanted to lead the planning for Juneteenth, and what they would have to commit to to make it happen. The students were with it! 

In moving the event to the entire school, once again I leveraged the unit we were studying. Our final remote learning unit was Poetry. Therefore, students had a ton of freedom in terms of what they could present during our Juneteenth event. Many of them drew upon the current events of racial justice and police brutality in the Black community that in my opinion  aligned with the spirit of Juneteenth.

 

For the lower grades (K-2). Teachers read the book Juneteenth for Mazie, which is a solid read. It uses the word slave instead of enslaved people, but teachers at my school are equipped to talk this through with the kids (yes, the babies get the truth)! My school purchased this unit from LaNesha Tabb and Naomi O’Brien to use with the book. For the older kids, we presented what Juneteenth is, leveraged videos, and allowed them to explore and research on their own. 

For a school celebration, one strategy is having a theme. Our first year, the theme was “Until We Are All Free” and this year it was “Still Celebrating Freedom.” The theme can help shape the program. Students and teachers submit work for the show and that’s how it is built. It can be as long or short as you want. The first year it was an hour and a half, and the second year (on Zoom) it was about an hour. Below are a few pictures:

The third big action step is investing the school community. This means other teachers, administrators, and student families. I created a letter for parents requesting donations, but I told the students that it wasn’t mandatory, and they should actually discuss what they were planning with their parents or guardians. I did used the money that my school reimburses teachers for buying supplies. I believe it was $150. My school also donated an additionally $200, which was more than enough to get food from Popeyes (I used my teacher negotiation skills). I took the lead in communicating with our leadership team and other teachers. The first year we had the band and dance teams perform, which required some coordination. Additionally, my team worked to create a special schedule for the day.

With the virtual Juneteenth, we took the same approach. Weeks ahead of the event, I presented Juneteenth to the staff, asked if there interested in participating, and clarified expectations. Given the nature of the internet, we decided to film the performances and put it together in a video in order to account for tech issues. 

Lastly, hold space for the team to reflect. Black Americans have contributed so much to this country and have yet to experience “liberty and justice for all.” Below is one of the performers who remixed the National Anthem.