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Red and black Juneteenth flag with a white starburst design and the text "June 19, 1865" flying on a flagpole against a blue sky.
History, PBS Wisconsin Voices

Celebrate Juneteenth with PBS Wisconsin Voices

June 19, 2025 Sigrid Peterson Leave a Comment

Juneteenth, also known as Jubilee Day and Emancipation Day, is an annual celebration commemorating June 19, 1865, when — more than two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation — federal troops arrived in Galvaston, Texas, to issue General Order No. 3 declaring all enslaved people free.

While the Emancipation Proclamation delivered a legally binding executive order ending chattel slavery throughout the Confederate states, enslavers resisted its implementation. June 19, 1865, marked the arrival of federal military enforcement in Texas that could make freedom a reality in the western-most Confederate stronghold.

For more than 150 years, Black Americans have celebrated June 19 with gatherings that honor Black freedom and the ongoing struggle for true equality. From the earliest celebrations in Texas churches and town squares to today’s diverse observances across the nation, Juneteenth remains a day of reflection, resilience and community. The holiday became a federal observance in 2021, but its profound significance eclipses official state recognition.

Alongside today’s family gatherings, cultural events, joy-filled festivals and thoughtful reflections, PBS Wisconsin honors this day by sharing Juneteenth resources from our partners and from our PBS Wisconsin Voices collection.

Grandmother of Juneteenth discusses what the day means | PBS News Hour

Stream this 2023 PBS News Hour segment that honors Opal Lee—activist, educator and the driving force behind the national recognition of Juneteenth. At age 89, Lee walked over 1,400 miles from Texas to Washington, D.C., determined to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Her campaign, fueled by quiet resolve and national demonstrations for racial justice, helped inspire the 2021 legislation that finally honored June 19 as America’s second Independence Day.

Milwaukee’s 51st Annual Juneteenth Celebration | Milwaukee PBS

Join Milwaukee PBS’s Black Nouveau at the city’s 51st Annual Juneteenth Festival in 2022. From Civil War reenactors honoring Wisconsin’s Black infantry to vibrant youth leaders and more than 300 community vendors, this episode captures a powerful day of pride, reflection and joy.

Juneteenth: The Long Road To Freedom | WSIU Public Broadcasting

Learn more about the complexities and misunderstandings of Juneteenth and the long road to emancipation in this documentary from our PBS partners at WSIU public broadcasting in southern Illinois. Juneteenth: The Long Road to Freedom explains how freedom wasn’t suddenly “granted” to enslaved Texans, but actively claimed through resistance, underground communication networks and the participation of Black soldiers in military service. Scholars and descendants trace the deeper story behind June 19, 1865, highlighting the role of the AME Church, the limits of the Emancipation Proclamation and the ongoing fight for civil rights.

Juneteenth: Freedom and the Fine Print | Say It Loud

Celebrate Juneteenth with Say It Loud as hosts unpack the “fine print” of freedom in America, exploring how emancipation marked a beginning — not an end — in the fight for Black liberation. From voter suppression and mass incarceration to the legacy of policing, this episode connects past to the present, honoring the activism and struggle that frames  Juneteenth.

Juneteenth Collection | Reel South

Collage-style poster with cut-out letters spelling "Quilted Education," featuring two people at a sewing machine and labeled "May 08" and "Texas."

Take in stories of liberation, legacy and creativity in this Reel South Juneteenth collection, a curated set of episodes that spotlight the many ways Black Americans preserve history and pursue justice. One standout episode for Juneteenth features quilter Karen Johnson, who transforms fabric into storytelling, stitching together vibrant narratives of Black achievement left out of textbooks in Texas schools. In a yearlong effort, Johnson quilts depictions of 64 trailblazing African Americans across eight categories, from literature to civil rights, as a form of resistance to her daughter’s school neglecting Black History Month.

Explore the whole collection.

14 Books for Celebrating Juneteenth | PBS Parents

Collage of children's book covers celebrating Juneteenth, with a PBS Kids for Parents banner reading "Books for Celebrating Juneteenth."

And finally, for kids, parents and any lover of picture books, PBS Parents recommends seven children’s books — ideal for ages preschool through early elementary — that celebrate Juneteenth’s history and legacy. These selections spark meaningful family conversations and help young readers understand the importance of the holiday with a balance of lively storytelling and history.