Celebrating Juneteenth and Juneteenth Crafts

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, or Jubilee Day, is a holiday celebrated on June 19th in the United States. It commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans and marks the day in 1865 when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the abolition of slavery. This was over two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had officially outlawed slavery in the Confederate States as of January 1, 1863.

The name "Juneteenth" is a blend of "June" and "nineteenth," indicating the date of the celebration. The holiday has been observed in various forms since the late 19th century, often with community gatherings, educational events, family reunions, parades, and festivals celebrating African American culture and history.

Juneteenth is recognized as a state holiday or special day of observance in most U.S. states. On June 17, 2021, it became a federal holiday after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. The holiday not only honors the end of slavery but also serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggles for equality and justice faced by African Americans.

Crafts can be a wonderful way to engage children in learning about Juneteenth and celebrating its significance. Here are some kid-friendly craft ideas for Juneteenth:

1. Juneteenth Flag Craft

Materials: Construction paper (red, white, blue, and black), scissors, glue, markers.

Instructions:

1. Cut out a rectangle from blue construction paper for the top half of the flag.
2. Cut a smaller rectangle from red construction paper for the bottom half.
3. Cut a star from white construction paper and place it in the middle of the blue rectangle.
4. Glue the red rectangle below the blue one.
5. Optionally, add a strip of black construction paper at the bottom to represent the heritage and struggle of African Americans.
6. Use markers to write "Juneteenth" on the flag.

2. Freedom Bell

Materials: Paper cups, markers, stickers, ribbon, a small jingle bell, glue.

Instructions:

1. Decorate the paper cup with markers and stickers to represent freedom and celebration.
2. Poke a hole at the bottom of the cup and thread a ribbon through it.
3. Attach a small jingle bell to the end of the ribbon inside the cup.
4. Knot the ribbon on the outside to secure the bell inside the cup.
5. Encourage the children to ring their Freedom Bell in celebration of Juneteenth.

3. Juneteenth Bracelets

Materials: Red, black, and green beads, elastic string.

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of elastic string to fit around the child's wrist.
2. Thread red, black, and green beads onto the string. Explain that these colors represent the Pan-African flag: red for the bloodshed in the fight for liberation, black for the African people, and green for the land and prosperity.
3. Tie the ends of the string together to form a bracelet.

4. Emancipation Proclamation Scrolls

Materials: Brown construction paper, markers, string, glue, tea bags.

Instructions:

1. Steep a tea bag in warm water and use it to stain the construction paper to give it an aged look. Let it dry.
2. Write a simplified version of the Emancipation Proclamation or a message about freedom on the paper.
3. Roll the paper into a scroll and tie it with a string.

5. Freedom Quilt

Materials: Colorful construction paper, markers, glue.

Instructions:

1. Cut out squares of construction paper in various colors.
2. Have the children decorate each square with symbols of freedom, unity, and African American culture using markers.
3. Glue the squares together to form a large quilt pattern.
4. Display the quilt as a representation of unity and freedom.

These crafts not only provide a fun activity for kids but also serve as an educational tool to help them understand the history and significance of Juneteenth.