This year at DigitalMarketer, we decided to mark Juneteenth as an official company holiday in support of our Black employees who support us day in and day out. That said, while we’re taking today, June 19, to rest, spend time with our families/loved ones, and educate ourselves about the importance of this holiday, we wanted to share some valuable resources. We’ve found these both useful and actionable as we’ve journeyed to greater understanding and reflection of our country’s past.
History
If this is the first time you’ve heard of Juneteenth, it may be because the holiday began in Texas. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, enslaved people in Texas weren’t actually freed until federal troops arrived to enforce the order two years later, on June 19, 1865. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated across the country as the end of slavery in the United States. There’s, of course, greater history in and around this celebration, and these resources are a great place to start.
12 Things You Might Not Know About Juneteenth
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
Recognizing the Holiday
While this holiday started in South Texas, it is rapidly gaining momentum nationwide. Many cities and states have given the holiday an official status, and there are several petitions to make Juneteenth a national holiday.
States That Officially Recognize Juneteenth
BLM Petition to Have Juneteenth Recognized as a National Holiday
Change.org Petition to Have Juneteenth Recognized as a National Holiday
Recipes
Nicole A. Taylor is a food writer and cookbook author who carefully curated this list of recipes in celebration of Juneteenth. It’s hard to keep your mouth from watering when you see some of her selections, but it’s the tradition and meaning behind each of these recipes that’s most important. So just remember that when you create some of these unforgettable dishes to also pay homage to their origin.
Events
We hope that everyone educates themselves on the importance of this holiday. As a country, we’ve made some strides (particularly in the last few weeks) and though we still have a very long way to go, we encourage you to honor the spirit of the holiday and enjoy the festivities. And if you are looking for a way to virtually celebrate Juneteenth, we found a few fun events (all online) you can look into!
Juneteenth Live Streaming Music Festival
