Search

Today is Indigenous Peoples’ Day, a holiday still observed as Columbus Day in many states. On this day—and year-round—we hope you’ll commit to teaching the truth about Indigenous history and the experiences of Indigenous peoples. These resources can help.

Juneteenth—celebrated across the country on June 19—marks an important milestone in the struggle for freedom. But the lessons of this holiday can and should be taught year-round. Use these resources to learn more about Juneteenth, get ideas for sharing it with students and contextualize it within American history.

This year, the Fourth of July arrives amid protests against racism and police brutality toward Black Americans and a focus on the role white supremacy has always played in the United States. As these resources show, this holiday and its symbols are tied to a long tradition of protest and demands that our nation make good on its promise of freedom for all.

Despite attempts to quickly commercialize the recognition of Juneteenth as a national holiday in the United States, this celebration highlights the importance of honest history and the relevance of the past in the struggles of the present. These LFJ resources can help unpack the complex history of this observance that originated in Texas—including the need for intervention from the federal government and efforts toward obscuring what actually took place.