Celebrating Juneteenth

Juneteenth, a combination of June and nineteenth, is a holiday celebrating the freedom of the last remaining slaves on June 19, 1865. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed by President Abraham Lincoln more than two years beforehand, news of the abolishment of slavery in the confederacy would slowly make its rounds throughout the South. General Granger’s last stop to make this historic announcement was Galveston, Texas.

Juneteenth is a landmark moment for the U.S. but its legacy must be kept alive. It is a time to celebrate the strides African Americans have made, acknowledge the hardships they endure and reflect on what changes must be made to ensure a more positive and equitable future.

There are many ways to celebrate the holiday — from remembrance with family gatherings to parades held across the country. Southern Company encourages employees to learn more about the holiday and its history through the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

NMAAHC is supported by Southern Company Charitable Foundation and it has a slate of virtual events that will be available to the public from 6 a.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Saturday. Guests can join the event at any point during the two days and choose their own path through the experiences, activities, and online videos. Some of the events include the opportunity to create a Juneteenth inspired menu based on recipes in the Sweet Home Café Cookbook, a workshop on how to trace your ancestors and a virtual tour of the “Freedom’s Promise” exhibit.

NMAAHC is the only museum devoted exclusively to African American life, history and culture and it contains over 36,000 artifacts. It’s four pillars are:

• It provides an opportunity for those who are interested in African American culture to explore and revel in this history through interactive exhibitions


• It helps all Americans see how their stories, their histories, and their cultures are shaped and informed by global influences
  
  


• It explores what it means to be an American and share how American values like resiliency, optimism, and spirituality are reflected in African American history and culture
  
  


• It serves as a place of collaboration that reaches beyond Washington, D.C. to engage new audiences and to work with the myriad of museums and educational institutions that have explored and preserved this important history well before this museum was created.
  
  

We examine the past to inform ourselves and the future. Visit the museum’s Juneteenth exhibit.