Juneteenth
Celebrate. Educate. Agitate. Create.
About Juneteenth
Known as Emancipation Day and America’s second Independence Day – marking the end of slavery in the United States – Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 and a Minnesota state holiday in 2023. The day presents an opportunity to celebrate, educate, agitate, and create.
The Minnesota Humanities Center is proud to host a series of commemorative events that create greater awareness and understanding of the Juneteenth holiday. We hope to provide an opportunity for us to recognize the strength of those who fought to fulfill America’s promise, become more knowledgeable about America’s history, celebrate among friends, and envision an America where the inalienable rights articulated in the Declaration of Independence become a reality for all Americans.
Contact Us
Casey DeMarais
Our Juneteenth Events
This year we hosted four Juneteenth events for you to enjoy, build community, and learn about America’s history.
Explore Resources
African American stories – books, videos and websites – housed in MHC’s Absent Narratives Resource Collection, sortable by grade level and content discipline
Senses of Freedom: Exploring the Tastes, Sounds and Experiences of an African American Celebration from the National Museum of African American History and Culture
Black and Thriving from the NAACP
From Dr. Christopher P. Lehman, professor of Ethnic Studies at St. Cloud State University, Minnesota Book Award winner, and featured thought leader in this years’ Juneteenth documentary film:
- It Took Courage: Eliza Winston’s Quest for Freedom, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press (2024)
- Slavery’s Reach: Southern Slaveholders in the North Star State published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press (2019)
Juneteenth Commemoration Sponsors
Corporate, community, and philanthropic support help us bring programming to the people of Minnesota. Thank you to the following partners for their generous sponsorship of MHC’s 2025 Juneteenth commemoration.
