Six Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth with Your Kids

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated every June 19th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S., which came a full two and half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

Starlight honors Juneteenth by recognizing it as a company holiday and encouraging our employees to use the day for reflection and education. We have also gathered several resources and activities that you can do with your kids on Juneteenth.

1. Teach your Child About the Holiday. If this is your first-time celebrating Juneteenth with your family or you just want to learn more as a family, check out this video from PBS. 

2. Read Books with Your Kids. The below titles are excellent choices to read with kids of all ages.
   All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom By Angela Johnson
   Juneteenth for Mazie By Floyd Cooper
   Juneteenth By Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
   Juneteenth: Freedom Day By Muriel Miller Branch

3. Plan a Family Feast! Spend the day cooking and decorating your table while discussing the importance of Juneteenth. Focus on food with red hues as red foods are customary for Juneteenth because red is a symbol of ingenuity and resilience in bondage. Think foods like watermelon, spicy hot links, hot sauce, and red velvet cake. Plus, you can get creative and make a fun, red-themed drink!

4. Visit an African American Museum. Check your local area to see if you live near an African American Museum where you and your kids can learn more about African American history and culture! If you can’t visit one in person, explore the resources online from the National Museum of African American History & Culture. 

5. Order in from a Black-Owned Business! There are a lot of lists available that spotlight black-owned restaurants. Find a list for your local area and sit down with your kids to pick out which restaurant you want to order from. Plus, if there are others you want to try, you can make this a regular habit when ordering out!

6. Listen to Music. June is also Black Music Month! Spend Juneteenth by exploring Spotify’s Black Music Month (you are able to turn off explicit content in your settings) or teach your kids about freedom songs and spirituals.

Whether you choose one activity or all six of them, we hope that you use the day to have meaningful conversations with your kids about the importance of Juneteenth.