RESOURCE GUIDE

Misericordia's Diversity & Inclusion Committee has arranged a list of resources for Juneteenth, an American holiday that acknowledges the end of chattel slavery in the United States. In addition to checking out these materials, we encourage all staff and residents to leave a message here to share your thoughts on this guide. We may include your feedback in Campus Connections!

From Britannica.com:

WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?

Juneteenth is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. It is also called Emancipation Day or Juneteenth Independence Day. The name “Juneteenth” references the date of the holiday, combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.” Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19.

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF JUNETEENTH?

Juneteenth was originally celebrated in Texas, on June 19, 1866. It marked the first anniversary of the day that African Americans there first learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, more than two years after it was initially issued. The holiday was originally celebrated with prayer meetings and by singing spirituals and wearing new clothes to represent newfound freedom. Within a few years, African Americans were celebrating Juneteenth in other states, making it an annual tradition.

HOW IS JUNETEENTH CELEBRATED?

Juneteenth celebrations in the United States typically include prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with food, music, and dancing. The day is also celebrated outside the United States and is used to recognize the end of slavery as well as to celebrate African American culture and achievements.

WHAT ARE THE JUNETEENTH COLORS?

You may commonly see two different color schemes associated with Juneteenth: red, white, and blue, as seen on the Juneteenth flag, and red, black, and green, which are colors of the Pan-African flag. Courtesy of the National Museum of African American History & Culture (NMAAHC), click here to learn what each flag represents and find instructions on how to make your own! You can also visit the rest of their website here for more educational content for yourself, residents, and loved ones!

DELICIOUS JUNETEENTH RECIPES

TO TRY

With Juneteenth taking place close to the summer solstice, you will find a lot of traditional Juneteenth dishes that are perfect for a warm day! Courtesy of Today.com, click here for over 50 sweet and savory Juneteenth recipes, ranging from fried catfish with grits and tomato gravy to lemon-lime soda cake. And if their list has your appetite craving more, check out other recipes here on Pinterest. If you have your own that you would like to share, email Campus Connections!

JUNETEENTH IN MUSIC, MOVIES, TV, AND BOOKS

For music: Check out these Juneteenth playlists courtesy of TIDAL and Spotify. Please note that some songs may contain explicit language.

For TV and movies: Click here and here to visit Buzzfeed.com and Oscars.org for media recommendations to watch.

For books: From the NMAAHC and the Chicago Public Library, click here and here to find their reading lists for all ages!

JUNETEENTH AT MISERICORDIA

Misericordia would like to thank the Marian Center for their efforts in designing and crafting shirts for our campus. Nearly 200 shirts were sold!

We would also like to thank Day Services for putting together Juneteenth-related videos and activities for residents. Click here to check them out!

Did you know that after July 5, 2023, Juneteenth will be recognized as a floating holiday? To read about our floating holiday policy which will go into effect next month, click here and talk to your supervisor if you have questions about the policy's guidelines.

This guide was curated by Misericordia's Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Campus Connections. If you have any feedback, email campusconnections@misericordia.com. Be sure to include your name, work area, and an extension we can use to contact you!