Juneteenth - A Brief History and How We Plan to Celebrate This Year!

What is the history of Juneteenth?

For those who are still getting familiar with this Federal Holiday, Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day. This day, in 1865, was nearly two and a half years after Lincoln emancipated enslaved Africans. 250,000 enslaved people were freed in Galveston, Texas by Union troops. This signifies that the enslaved population was truly free.

This doesn't mean that oppression ended for Black individuals in the United States, as it will continue to be an uphill battle. The day became an official National Holiday in 2021.

It is celebrated in a variety of ways, but overall the day refers to the historical narrative of oppression but it also represents Black Achievement and resilience. Read more about the History and context of Juneteenth here: https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth#:~:text=Community%20Day-,The%20First%20Juneteenth,as%20Juneteenth%20or%20Freedom%20Day.

How is ATBHK celebrating this year?

This year, the Association for Teaching Black History in Kentucky is co-hosting an event with the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky. This Juneteenth celebration will be that Wednesday from 9:00-11:00am.

There will be breakfast, several honorees that will be recognized, and a word from Frank X. Walker. This event is going to be so special but it's also a free event! Registration is required but you are not charged anything at checkout.

We hope to see you all there! Reach out to ATBHK or the Muhammad Ali Center with amy questions. Use this link to read more about this event and to register: https://alicenter.org/events/atbhk-juneteenth-celebration/

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