Seattle Public Schools: Juneteenth At Seattle Public Schools

Press release from Seattle Public Schools:

06/15/2021

Dear SPS families and staff,

On Saturday, June 19, we will honor one of the most important days for our country and our African American community - Juneteenth.

On that day, African Americans achieved liberation from enslavement as General Gordon Granger of the Union Army entered Galveston, Texas with the announcement of General Order No. 3, declaring the official liberation of more than 250,000 African Americans in Texas.

This year, the Washington state legislature passed a measure, signed into law by Governor Jay Inslee, stating that beginning in 2022, Juneteenth will finally be recognized as a legal state holiday in Washington state.

Thank you to all who advocated for this important legislation and for those who continue to advocate to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. I stand with you in these efforts.
Juneteenth remains the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of ending the enslavement of people in the United States.

Today, Juneteenth celebrates that achievement of freedom, liberation, and justice, emphasizing the African American achievements, education, and resilience that advanced our country. Historically, celebrations for this important day include family and community gatherings, song, dance, prayer, and soul food. Juneteenth is a time for reflection and rejoicing.

To support conversations at home and in classrooms, we are providing educational resources about Juneteenth. On this day, and always, Seattle Public Schools celebrates and centers our Black and African American students, staff, families, and community as we work to create welcoming school environments and provide high-quality learning for all.

At Seattle Public Schools, we will always celebrate your excellence.

Happy Juneteenth!

Dr. Brent Jones
Superintendent

Juneteenth Educational Resources

So You Want to Learn About Juneteenth? The New York Times

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth National Museum of African American History and Culture, Smithsonian

Teaching Juneteenth Learning for Justice

This is Why Juneteenth is Important for America (VIDEO) The Root

History of the Modern Juneteenth Movement National Juneteenth Observance Foundation

Why'd it take so long for some of us to find out about Juneteenth? The Undefeated

Juneteenth for Mazie by Floyd Cooper (VIDEO)

This press release was produced by Seattle Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author’s own.