06/20/2026
I truly BEG you to take the time to read because I worked so hard to bring this info to all of our parents ……‼️‼️‼️‼️
As Juneteenth approaches, I took the time to research …. What is Juneteenth?? This holiday is rather new and so many of us really truly have no idea!!! When you become an educator and your heart burns to teach you realize the only way to teach something is to understand yourself. I went on a mission and started to ask staff and random friends if they knew what exactly is Juneteenth. I mean … How can we teach something to children and celebrate if we don’t know what it is??
Soooo I encourage our Little Jack’s families to think about an important question and….
I BEG YOU TO READ THIS long post that I worked so hard to learn about and then had to put into words because quite frankly this project has opened my eyes and humbled my heart. ❤️
Do you know the history behind this holiday and why it matters?
One of the most powerful phrases in American history is found on the Liberty Bell:
“Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land Unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.”
These words remind us that FREEDOM is one of the core values our nation was built upon. Juneteenth celebrates an important moment when that promise of freedom moved closer to becoming a reality.
Many people know that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring that enslaved people in Confederate states were free. However, what many do not know is that freedom did not reach everyone immediately.
Because Texas was far from the main areas of the Civil War and had very little Union military presence, many enslaved people there remained in bo***ge for more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.
On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced General Orders No. 3, officially informing enslaved people that they were free. This day became known as Juneteenth. CAN YOU IMAGINE?? I know if I was a black slave in Texas on that day… I would be skeptical!!
To understand the importance of Juneteenth, we MUST also acknowledge the reality of SLAVERY!!!
Slavery dehumanized human beings. It allowed people to profit from the labor of others without compensation. Can you imagine working your hardest day without being paid?? Families were separated!! Can you imagine having your child taken from you and not knowing where they may go?? People lost their birth names, their languages, and the ability to openly practice their cultural traditions. Their freedom and basic human rights were taken away!!!
THIS IS NOT AMERICAN!!
Juneteenth is more than a celebration of a historical event. It is a celebration of freedom, STRENGTH , and the dignity of EVERY human being.
As our country approaches its 250th anniversary, it seems only fitting that we seriously take the time to celebrate this milestone while ALSO remembering the FULL story of our nation’s history. Understanding NOT only our nations successes BUT also understanding OUR FAILURES will help us appreciate how far we have come and reminds us of the work that STILL REMAINS!!
This Juneteenth, let us celebrate freedom and honor those influential people who endured UNIMAGINABLE hardships, and remember that liberty is a right that belongs to ALL people.
ALLLLLL…. the rich and the poor, the young and the old , those who were born here and THOSE WHO CAME HERE TO SEEK A BETTER LIFE, and more personally … every Child who dreams of a brighter future.
As we head into next week at Little Jacks we will be bringing this holiday to the children ; to plant those seeds of kindness to humans by acceptance of all people.
