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Juneteenth


What is Juneteenth?

Juneteenth, which recognizes when enslaved individuals in Galveston, TX learned of the end of the war and the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation with the control of the area now in Union army hands on June 19, 1865, more than two months after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, VA, is one of several emancipation dates that people of African descent celebrate in the United States. Many African Americans have celebrated Juneteenth for generations before it became a federally recognized holiday on June 17, 2021. Across the country, and throughout the diaspora, different regional and national celebrations of emancipation take place annually which connect many African diasporic communities.  We invite our campus to explore the rich history of African American emancipation celebrations this Juneteenth and to explore the resources here that can contextualize the celebration within larger historic struggles for Black liberation. 

Social Justice Resources: Juneteenth

This guide was curated by KU libraries and provides information and resources for anyone interested in learning more about Juneteenth and social justice.
aJuneteenth celebrated in Emancipation Park, Houston, Texas in 1880. A large group people posing for a photo

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth

Learn about the historical legacy of Juneteenth from the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC).
Emancipation Day celebration, June 19, 1900 held in East Woods& on East 24th Street in Austin. Credit: Austin History Center. Image shows 2 Black women and 4 Black men standing and looking at the camera