I’m a professor at the University of Michigan, and while psychology is my discipline, I’ve had a longtime affiliation with Black Studies.
I talk to – and teach – my children about Black history. Both of them have heard of Juneteenth, the holiday many Americans are celebrating today.
But when I asked them about the history of Juneteenth, I was surprised that neither my 16-year-old son nor 12-year-old daughter could discuss its significance.
Juneteenth is the annual holiday recognizing the day enslaved African Americans in Texas finally learned that the Civil War had ended and they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
For more context, both of my children are honor students. My son, in particular, enjoys history, especially Black history. We’ve even lived in Texas.
While Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021, it remains less well known in comparison to other federal holidays.
And we should not take for granted that Americans have the opportunity to learn about the important history behind this holiday.
Juneteenth is American history
There is evidence that awareness of Juneteenth has risen among Americans. A recent YouGov survey found that 90% of Americans have heard of the holiday. Black Americans were more likely to say they plan to celebrate it and support its inclusion in the history curricula of public schools compared to white Americans and Hispanic Americans.
However, awareness of Juneteenth – as with my son and daughter - does not mean that people know the history behind it.
Read the full article on The Detroit Free Press.
