NaNoWriMo Recognizes and Celebrates Juneteenth

Today is Juneteenth, a day in the United States recognizing and celebrating the news of emancipation finally reaching enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued. It is now celebrated as a holiday in many states and is a day to remember and celebrate the Black people who truly built America, and to reflect on the work we still have to do to build an equal and just nation.

NaNoWriMo is joining the growing list of organizations officially recognizing this day. We’ll be taking the day to reflect on what this day means, and what our role is as individuals and an organization to keep striving for racial justice.

If you’d like to learn more about the history of Juneteenth or if you would like to join us in reading, watching, and supporting the cause of racial justice, we’ve put together a few links to resources. Because Juneteenth is an American holiday and the majority of our staff and participants are American, our resources skew that way, but we encourage our participants around the world to seek out opportunities to contribute to racial justice endeavors in your country. Feel free to share this list!

Learn more about JuneteenthWhat Is Juneteenth, How Is It Celebrated, and Why Does It Matter? If you didn’t learn about Juneteenth in school, this article by Jameelah Nasheed is an excellent overview.An online Juneteenth exhibit from the California State Library The California State Library has digitized some of the incredible original documents and images surrounding JuneteenthVirtual Juneteenth eventsThe Juneteenth Book FestivalThe Juneteenth Music FestivalStay Black and Live, a virtual Juneteenth festivalThe African American Museum of Iowa Virtual Juneteenth CelebrationOnline resources to learn more about racial justice and Black historyThe 1619 Project from Nikole Hannah-Jones at the New York Times10 Little Known Facts about Black History from PBSFree Yale Course: African-American History: From Emancipation to the PresentMovies, TV shows, and books on systemic racism

Image description:

Graphic labeled “Ways to recognize Juneteenth” with a grid of four sections:

1. Learn: 

Read up on the history of JuneteenthRead the Emancipation ProclamationWatch a documentary about a racial justice movement in your country or community

2. Read/Watch:

Watch a movie or show by a Black creatorBuy and read a book by a Black author from a Black-owned bookstore for #BlackoutBestsellerList, or suggest one for your local library to purchase

3. Celebrate:

Find a Juneteenth festival or event to participate in (whether in person or online)If you go to an in-person event, make sure to practice safe social distancing and wear a mask!

4. Support:

Donate to organizations focused on equality and social justiceVolunteer at a food bank or other local group that is meaningful to youShop at Black-owned businesses