June 19th commemorates the day when 250,000 enslaved people in Texas, the last bastion of slavery during the final days of the Civil War, were declared free. While we honor this significant milestone, we also acknowledge the ongoing journey toward equality and justice within the United States and within the field of archaeology. In the spirit of Juneteenth, we celebrate African American resilience, contributions, and culture through the lens of archaeology and cultural heritage. Here are a selection of resources and ideas to celebrate Juneteenth through this lens as well:
Visit an African American Heritage Park
From the initial landing of enslaved Africans to sites of civil rights milestones, national parks offer a way to engage with and honor the stories of African Americans in history.
Listen to the Society of Black Archaeologists’ Oral History Project
This collection of interviews highlights the experiences and history of people of African descent in the field of archaeology, past and present.
Abstract:In this conversation between Chris McAuley, Black Studies Collection Editor at Lived Places Publishing and Deirdre Foreman, author of My Cultural Legacy: Slave Culture and the American South, they explore the cultural legacy of enslaved Africans in the American South through an ethnoautobiographical reflection of Deirdre’s own African American identity and family heritage. Through storytelling and personal narratives, she describes her family’s cultural practices and how they are directly rooted in those of the enslaved African on the Southern Plantation. June 20th, RSVP online.
Juneteenth 2024 Playlist
Enjoy this playlist put together by the National Museum of African American History and Culture, filled with themes of joy, resilience, family, and freedom.
Support the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund
Help preserve historical sites of African American activism, achievement, and resilience.