Juneteenth Resources – 2021
On Saturday of this week, our country will celebrate Juneteenth, 2021. No, it is not yet a national holiday, though specific efforts to that end are continuing. It is the holiday that marks the end of slavery in the United States more than 150 years ago. This year, the poignancy of this celebration rests on the length of the journey yet to be traveled. The quest for fairness, justice and historical acknowledgement is both long and never more important than in 2021. The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other Black Americans have finally been enough to shift the narrative to a new set of questions that have otherwise been swept under the rug.
The history and constant relevance of this celebration and why it matters can be explored in the following recent articles will help inform the curious anti-racist. Please share them with others who are eager to see a time when fairness and justice are simply the standard.
Juneteenth, now a national holiday, will grow in scope and observance, as it should. For 2021, HERE is a link to the celebrations that are available in the Pinellas County area.
So You Want to Learn More About Juneteenth? – NYT (June 14, 2021)
On June 19, 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free. A century and a half later, people in cities and towns across the U.S. continue to celebrate the occasion. (NYT – June 14, 2021)
Juneteenth – Center for American Progress (June 2021)
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery. It’s been 155 years since June 19, 1865, but Black people still aren’t free. Black people are still demanding equal rights, equal treatment, and full access to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Juneteenth – Atlanta History Center (June 2021)
Since 2013, Atlanta History Center has hosted an annual Juneteenth commemoration that connects visitors to this essential moment in national history through a weekend of free programming. Join us virtually as we honor Black innovation, creativity, and activism throughout the entire month of June 2021.
