Juneteenth goes by many names, including Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Emancipation Day. Slavery is a difficult topic to tackle with young children and their ability to grasp the concept will vary with age; but when we talk to kids about Juneteenth, the tone of the discussions can be more joyful and uplifting, with a focus on freedom.
We can ask kids what freedom means to them, and what they think it might feel like to not be able to make their own choices. We can explain that enslaved Africans and African Americans weren’t entitled to any freedoms, and that was unjust and wrong. However, Juneteenth meant that Black people in America could begin a new life with new freedom and hope for a better future, and that’s an important thing to celebrate.
Juneteenth is also a time to celebrate Black culture in general, through the music, food, and cultural traditions of Black Americans that have evolved since slavery. Supporting Black-owned businesses, visiting African American museums or African American exhibits, volunteering, or simply spreading the word are all ways to acknowledge the holiday.
Article provided by Mommypoppins.com
