Celebrating Juneteenth

Add joy to student learning!

When we teach our students about events, such as the Civil War, that helped to form the tradition of the Juneteenth holiday, we are supporting them in coping with racial trauma.

Celebrating Juneteenth can add joy to student learning for Black students. As educators, it is our responsibility to give our students the tools to heal themselves. Racial trauma is the ongoing result of racism, racist bias, and exposure to racist abuse in the media. Racial trauma can affect many aspects of a person’s life, including their ability to have relationships, concentrate on school or work, and feel safe. Research indicates that the best way to deal with racial trauma is by fighting against it (Villenes, 2020). Therefore, when we teach our students about events, such as the Civil War, that helped to form the tradition of the Juneteenth holiday, we are supporting them in coping with racial trauma. Celebrating Juneteenth encourages Black students to become more intellectual about American history.  Recognizing the strengths of our ancestors supports Black students in experiencing the joy of their culture. Over the past 2 years at Thurgood Marshall Academy Lower School, Juneteenth has been an increasingly celebrated holiday for our school community. Students are invited to take part in social activism against racial injustice through class discussions, debates, and artistic presentations that include poetry and artwork through reflection. When teachers inform their children about Juneteenth they are behaving as a supportive community that understands racial trauma (West, Donovan, Roemer, 2009). As teachers, we have the power to help our children heal.

References

Muhammad, G. (2019) Cultivating Genius

West, L. M., Donovan, R. A., & Roemer, L. (2010). Coping With Racism: What Works and

Doesn’t Work for Black Women? Journal of Black Psychology, 36(3), 331–349.

https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798409353755

Villines, Z. (2020). What to Know About Racial Trauma. Medical News Today. 

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/racial-trauma

Please click the link to see the full lesson plan and sample students work. Celebrating Juneteenth