What Does Freedom Mean?

Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal and Massachusetts state holiday for the first time this past Saturday, June 19. Part commemoration, part celebration, it marks the day in 1865 when those who remained enslaved in Texas after the end of the Civil War were officially told of their emancipation.

To commemorate Juneteenth last year during the pandemic, The Wayside Inn Foundation (TWIF) published a blog post about its history. This post included a video read-aloud of All Different Now: Juneteenth, the First Day of Freedom (Written by Angela Johnson, Illustrated by E.B. Lewis), which hundreds on YouTube have since viewed. Given the popularity of the video and the unique nature of the holiday this year, we decided to host an in-person Juneteenth youth program. The program included time for reflection and discussion and a make-and-take craft, in addition to a read-aloud. And, because Longfellow’s Wayside Inn has a long history with food and hospitality, we wanted to end the day with a Juneteenth-inspired picnic lunch. Saturday morning, we held our program. Our young participants listened to a read-aloud of Floyd Cooper’s Juneteenth for Mazie. They then did a journaling/discussion activity about the meaning of freedom and made a celebratory confetti popper. We also discussed the significance of the color red in Juneteenth foods before enjoying a delicious lunch of mac & cheese bites, strawberry jam sandwiches on bread made from Grist Mill flour, strawberry lemonade, and red velvet cupcakes. The children ranged in age from 5 ½ to 10 years of age, so we tempered our expectations of what they might (or might not) be able to discuss or understand. However, we were blown away by their insights and comments. We even incorporated a parade based on the recommendation of one of the kids.

The decree read to those enslaved in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, came almost two months after the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee and more than two years after Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. The Thirteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which marks the legal banishment of the institution of slavery, was ratified on December 6, 1865. As a society, we continue to struggle with the long-term impact of slavery and the aftermath of the Civil War, the latter of which lasted almost four years and resulted in more than 600,000 casualties (new estimates put the number closer to 750,000). Juneteenth provides an annual opportunity for all of us to reflect on that history in all its complexity. It is also an excellent time to ponder some of the essential, more philosophical, questions that arise from this history. The children in our Juneteenth program did not shy away from such discussions and questions, and neither should we as adults. So, what does freedom mean to you and our country today?

Katina Fontes is the Education Coordinator for The Wayside Inn Foundation.