Monday marks the Juneteenth holiday — a date commemorating the fall of slavery in the United States. While it's a new federal holiday, it's been celebrated since the 1860s.
Organizers behind Juneteenth Atlanta, one of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the country and the official Juneteenth celebration for the city, are bringing back festivities for the event’s 11th year.
As the U.S. celebrates the second federal holiday honoring Juneteenth, several myths persist about the origins and history about what happened when enslaved people were emancipated in Texas.
Monday on Political Rewind: On the last day of campaigning before the runoffs, our panel looks at key contests statewide. Plus, after several controversies, Herschel Walker's campaign remains unscathed.
On Sunday, churchgoers will celebrate Juneteenth during their worship services. Members of the clergy reflect on the role of the church and the holiday marking the notification of the end of slavery.
Here on Code Switch, we love food just as much as we love history. So we couldn't let the Juneteenth pass by without getting into the culinary traditions that have been passed down for generations.
Friday on Political Rewind: On a special Juneteenth episode our panel examines the history of the holiday and what it means for our democracy. Plus, as legislation restricts how race is taught in schools, what does that mean for future generations?
To mark the holiday, Gorman reads "Fury and Faith," a poem from Call Us What We Carry. She says her collection's title reflects how "we all can be vessels of both hurt and hope at the same time."
Brands and companies are working to remove their Juneteenth items from shelves, as experts say those who are selling Juneteenth-branded products are "tone-deaf."
Now that Juneteenth is a federal holiday it has gone mainstream. The holiday was first celebrated in Texas, where on June 19th 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved Africans in Texas were finally freed under the terms of the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. But for those that think the holiday is just a time for African Americans to celebrate, think again. Juneteenth has meaning for white folks too.