The history of Juneteenth begins on June 19, 1865, when Union General, Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that slavery had ended 2 ½ years prior. Although President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued in January of 1863, a lack of Union troops in Texas made the order challenging to enforce, and slavery continued. June Nineteenth, or Juneteenth, marks the day when the remainder of the enslaved people were informed of their freedom. This important date is celebrated today by speeches, family gatherings, festivals, educational events, and more.
In June of 2021, President Biden signed a bill to mark Juneteenth as the 11th holiday recognized by the federal government. In acknowledging this historic day, join WEDU as we honor African American and Black communities by sharing impactful and educational stories of strength, hope, and courage.
Below, you will find global programming to recognize this year’s Juneteenth celebration:
Monday, June 12
Buffalo Soldiers: Fight on Two Fronts | WEDU | 10 p.m.
Established by Congress, the 14th Amendment promised citizenship in exchange for enlistment, prompting many African American men to join. They were denied due to Jim Crow laws but still served. The film examines the profound and often contradictory roles of Buffalo Soldiers in U.S. history and how they fought on two sets of front lines: military conflicts abroad and civil rights struggles at home.
Saturday, June 17
African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross | WEDU | 10 – 6 p.m.
This series chronicles the full sweep of African American history, from the origins of slavery on the African continent to today, when America remains a nation deeply divided by race.
Monday, June 19
Harriet Tubman: Visions of Freedom | WEDQ | 9 p.m.
Go beyond the legend and meet the inspiring woman who repeatedly risked her own life and freedom to liberate others from slavery. Born 200 years ago in Maryland, Harriet Tubman was a conductor of the Underground Railroad, a Civil War scout, a nurse, a spy, and one of the greatest freedom fighters in our nation’s history.
Ida B Wells: American Stories | WEDU | 11 p.m.
There are few historical figures whose life and work speak to the current moment more than Ida B. Wells, the 19th-century crusading investigative journalist, civil rights leader, and passionate suffragist. Hear Ida B. Wells' story told as never before.
Tuesday, June 20
Becoming Fredrick Douglass | WEDU | 9 p.m.
Discover how a man born into slavery became one of the most influential voices for democracy in American history. Oscar-nominated filmmaker Stanley Nelson explores the role Douglass played in securing the right to freedom for African Americans.
Saturday, June 24
Raised/Razed | WEDQ | 8 p.m.
Raised/Razed dives deep into Charlottesville, Virginia’s oldest African American neighborhood, charting the lives of residents as they faced racially discriminatory policies and a city government that saw them as the only thing between it and progress. Learn the hard truths of the federal Urban Renewal program and the broader history of its effect in Durham, North Carolina and communities across America.
Invisible History: Middle Florida’s Hidden Roots | WEDQ | 11 p.m.
Florida State University film school presents a new documentary that sheds light on the little-known history of plantations and the enslaved in North Florida. The film seeks to advance a sense of place and identity for hundreds of thousands of African Americans by exploring the invisible history of slavery in Leon County.
Wednesday, June 28
Alpha Kappa Alpha: A Legacy of Service | WEDU | 5 p.m.
Narrated by Phylicia Rashad, Alpha Kappa Alpha: A Legacy of Service documents the 115-year history of one of the nation’s oldest African American women’s organizations. Since its founding at Howard University in 1908, the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha have empowered communities across the globe.