Juneteenth marks an occasion that is simultaneously triumphant, sad, inspiring, and angering. The observance, which takes place on June 19th each year, marks the date on which federal troops arrived in Galveston, TX in 1865 to carry out the mandate of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation Proclamation had been signed a full two and a half years prior, yet people of African descent were still held in slavery in Texas and other parts of the country. Juneteenth honors that last group of people who had been freed, and commemorates the end of slavery in the U.S., although we know it's not quite that simple. As of 2021, Juneteenth is officially a federal holiday.
We are often reminded that Vermont was the first state to join the Union with a state constitution that banned slavery. This is only partially true--the state's constitution permitted slavery up to a certain age. As a result, there were people enslaved in Vermont and their names appear in official historical records noting their enslavement. Suffice it to say, Vermont joins the broader U.S. in recognizing and remedying its role in slavery. One of the ways to understand and acknowledge this history is through gatherings and events that provide spaces for learning and unity. Another way is through resources that can be read, shared, and discussed in communities and our everyday institutions. We are proud to lift up this robust resource list from our partners at the New York City Department of Education: Juneteenth Resource Guide