Happy Juneteenth!
We wanted to learn more about this now-federal holiday and its historical significance. What better way to learn than to speak to teachers! April Dunovant, on the left- "Ms. D" as her students call her, teaches social studies at the Middle College at UNCG. She also served on the committee that wrote the African American history curriculum for Guilford County Schools (GCS). On the right is Ms. Andrea Green who teaches English, and is also at the Middle College at UNCG. When asked what Juneteenth means to them and how we can all learn more about the holiday, Ms. D explained that Juneteenth is "a day to remember the struggles of our ancestors and their resilience and their ability to hope." Ms. Green encourages people to find credible and primary resources to learn about the holiday and what led to it, as opposed to just reading what gets posted on social media. She suggested visiting the website of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. She also suggested attending events like Day in the Park at 715 Summit Avenue from 4-7pm today and the open mic event with food trucks at LeBauer Park tonight from 5-8pm.
Ms. D's grandmother was born on July 4, 1924, just 59 years after the end of the Civil War, and she always maintained that July 4th was not her Independence Day, because her ancestors were not free until June 19, 1865. She celebrated Juneteenth. Both teachers emphasize the complexity behind the Civil War, reminding us it was not as if President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and everyone was free. Until 1865, the nation was still split into the Union and the Confederacy. Some slave owners in the Deep South, under the governance of the Confederacy, refused to comply. Ms. D and Ms. Green explained that even after the Civil War ended and the Confederacy fell, a whole new era of issues evolved, which is why some of the Juneteenth merchandise says "Free-ish since 1865."
Examples of these new issues include freed slaves needing housing, jobs, food, and money to be reunited with family members. Communities and towns had to be built with facilities and resources, accessible to African Americans. While African Americans were no longer slaves, they were still second class citizens, and separate was far from equal. There were many public places African Americans weren't allowed. It was at that time the historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were founded. As a local example, the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical University was founded in 1891 and was originally known as the Agricultural and Mechanical College for the Colored Race. It was the first institution of higher education for people of color in the state of North Carolina. As another local example, the first African American students were not admitted to the University of North Carolina Greensboro until 1956, only sixty-five years ago. Young African American students are so eager to learn of a history that has not always been readily available to them. Ms. Green admits to not knowing about Juneteenth until a year ago and attributes the murder of George Floyd to igniting a nationwide interest in Juneteenth. People are diving deeper into a history that has not previously been taught.
We learned so much from Ms. D and Ms. Green and are so grateful to have friends with whom we can discuss complex issues. Through rich conversations and positive interaction so much can be learned. The students who have these two teachers are in good hands! May everyone enjoy Juneteenth!
It is a complicated history, but worth knowing.
Posted by: William Kendall | Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 08:23 AM