Juneteenth for Kids! ｜ History for Kids ｜ Seed of Melanin Kids!

Cultivating girls do fun! Thank you for joining us for another Seed of Melanin School. Class is in session. Today, we're learning about Juneteenth. Juneteenth is one of the oldest holidays for blacks in the United States. Since 1619, blacks have been slaves in the United States. They were considered like animals to be owned by whites. Slaves lived in cabins on the property of their white owners or slave masters' land. The white slave masters often owned many acres of land called plantations. Most slaves worked without pay in the fields of the plantation, tending to the livestock, picking cotton, and performing other necessary tasks. Other slaves worked without pay in the homes of whites, doing domestic tasks like cooking, cleaning, and helping to raise children. Conditions during slavery were harsh and blacks were unable to leave or refuse to work without harm. Let's learn about Juneteenth. September 22, 1862. Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation during the Civil War. It declared that all slaves in the southern states would be free. However, despite the proclamation, in the state of Texas, there were an estimated 250,000 enslaved people that had yet to be free. On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, General Gordon Granger announced that slaves in Texas were now free. Newly freed slaves celebrated the good news and looked eagerly towards a new beginning in America. They would celebrate June 19 in churches and their water joined together in unity. The Juneteenth flag was created by the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation in 1997. The star of the flag represents Texas and the emancipation of the states. The burst symbolizes a new beginning for the former slaves. The arch is a symbol of a new horizon for blacks in America with hope for a better future. The red, white, blue is a reflection of the colors of the American flag. These colors also honor the slaves who died as Americans for their hard work building this country. Slavery in the United States was unjust, cruel, and wrong. Juneteenth helped to end this horrible practice. Today, Juneteenth is celebrated in a variety of ways. Families get together to eat, share traditions, and enjoy one another. Some cities host events and throw parades. We tell the story of Juneteenth to make sure our history is not forgotten. We celebrate freedom. Visit our website to learn more about Juneteenth and download our free Juneteenth activity guide. Subscribe to our channel for more videos!