What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom commemorating June 19, 1865 when Union General Gordon Granger read the federal orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people in Texas were free.
Why is it important?
Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed years earlier in 1863, it was not until Juneteenth in 1865 that the last of the remaining enslaved African Americans were freed.
Want to learn more?
June 19th. It's an important day to know. It is the day that celebrates the freedom of the last enslaved African Americans in the United States. They were freed on June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas. This was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, but African Americans in Texas had not yet heard the news that they were free. One reason was because the information was withheld by those who benefited from enslaved people. Plus, there were no telephones or computers, so information and news passed across the country slowly.
Learn More by Downloading Our Juneteenth Guide
In collaboration with BlackSpace NYC, University of Oklahoma Gibbs College of Architecture and with the support of Oklahoma Humanities, BlackSpace Oklahoma's Northeast Storytelling Project was created to explore community assets, values, identities, and ideas, within Black neighborhood spaces in Northeast Oklahoma City.
The project lives on in partnership with the Metropolitan Library System to continue to collect the stories of NE OKC.
Contribute your Northeast Oklahoma City story by contacting the Metro Library Special Collections & Research Department.
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Juneteenth Freedom Day Windsock Take Home Kit
Celebrate Juneteenth by creating a windsock Freedom Day Flag! This take home kit is intended for children 5-12. One per child.
Enslaved Black Americans were freed on January 1, 1863, but many did not find out they were free until June 19, 1865. Juneteenth is now a national holiday that commemorates the end of slavery in the US.
Emancipation Day (Juneteenth) Family Fun Take Home Kit: Pinwheels and Bunting
June 19th (also known as Juneteenth) is Emancipation Day - a federal holiday to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the USA.
Disclaimer(s)
Warning: Kit contains small parts that could represent a choking hazard. It is not intended for children under 3. It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Bag.
We can only guarantee one kit per household and per registration (if required).
It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Kit.
Celebrate Juneteenth 2024 with a Suncatcher take home kit! You'll use tissue paper and contact paper to create a suncatcher to hang in your window all summer long.
Disclaimer(s)
Warning: Kit contains small parts that could represent a choking hazard. It is not intended for children under 3. It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Bag.
It is encouraged that an adult supervise children while using this Metropolitan Library System Take & Make Kit.
Celebrate Juneteenth with this activity booklet take-home kit filled with Juneteenth-themed coloring sheets, word games, and crafts.
Kits are first come, first served, and while supplies last.
Gabrielle Reyes, with Black Soil Urban Farm, will teach about herbal teas and their health benefits. She will highlight Red Drink (hibiscus tea) and its significance in Juneteenth celebrations.