Juneteenth Patch Program

Background

The Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 declared an end to slavery in the United States of America. However, slavery didn’t fully end in the USA until June 19th, 1865, when Texas was the final state to free enslaved persons at the end of the Civil War. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, commemorates this milestone. Juneteenth is often celebrated through a combination of parades, marches, barbecues, public speeches, and other activities. The holiday even has its own flag, which is raised each year in Galveston, Texas, to recognize the day when all Americans were finally free.

For: Daisies, Brownies, Juniors, Cadettes, Seniors, and Ambassadors

Objective

Girl Scouts of the Northwestern Great Lakes is excited to debut this new patch in recognition of an important moment in American history. To earn your Juneteenth patch, you will learn about the history behind Juneteenth and current celebrations. You will also learn to connect the Juneteenth holiday to current freedom movements and are encouraged to enact positive change in your community!

Juneteenth Patch Activities

There are three steps to earning your Juneteenth patch.

Discover the history of Juneteenth by learning about traditions, celebrations, and Black freedom fighters.
Connect with Juneteenth celebrations and social justice movements in your community.
Carry out a Take Action project to promote and support freedom for all.

Discover

Learn about the Juneteenth holiday and Black freedom fighters by choosing one of the following three options.

Choice 1

Learn about the history of Juneteenth and try a celebration snack!

Read a book! You can find the following books about Juneteenth at a local library or Black-owned bookstore.

Watch this video about Juneteenth history, celebrations, and traditions:

Enjoy a traditional recipe:

One way that Juneteenth has traditionally been celebrated is by having a barbecue and drinking red strawberry soda. When African Americans were freed, they celebrated by drinking soda, a luxury they didn’t have while enslaved, and by eating red food—the color red symbolizes perseverance and the struggles they endured. Try out the recipe for strawberry soda, a traditional Juneteenth drink, from This Worthey Life:

Juneteenth Strawberry Soda

Ingredients: (8-10 Servings)

1-liter strawberry soda or lemon-lime soda
1 1/2 cups strawberry lemonade mix
1 cup homemade strawberry syrup
1 pint fresh strawberries, washed and sliced in half
Fresh sprigs of mint
ice

Directions:

Make the strawberry lemonade by combining the strawberry lemonade mix with the strawberry soda or lemon-lime soda instead of water.
Stir in the homemade strawberry syrup (see recipe below), fresh strawberries, and fresh sprigs of mint.
Taste and adjust sweetness to your liking.
Pour into glasses filled with ice.
Garnish with fresh strawberries and fresh sprigs of mint and serve.

Homemade Strawberry Syrup

Ingredients:

1 cup of granulated sugar
1 cup of water
1 cup fresh strawberries cleaned with the stems removed and cut in quarters
2 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice

Directions:

Place a saucepan over med-high heat and add water, sugar, prepared strawberries, and lemon juice.
When the mixture begins to boil, use a fork or potato masher to mash the strawberries to release the juices.
Allow the mixture to boil for an additional minute and remove from heat.
Place a tight-fitting lid onto the saucepan and allow the strawberry syrup to steep for 10 minutes.
Using a fine-mesh sieve, strain the syrup into a Mason jar. Store in the fridge for up to three days

Choice 2

Learn about important Black activists throughout history and into the present day and use your new knowledge to create a poster!

Choose a Black freedom fighter from this list and then answer the following questions: https://www.thenorthstar.com/p/29-freedomfighters

When were they born, and where?
How did they fight against racism and inequality?
What is their legacy?

Use the information you learn to create a superhero poster with one of these important f igures as your hero. What injustices are they f ighting? What super skills did they use to make the world a better place?

Choice 3

Learn about the Juneteenth flag.

The Juneteenth flag is a combination of red, white, and blue colors with a starburst shape in the middle. While the flag itself symbolizes the end of slavery in the United States, you may not know that each individual part of the flag also contains meaning. The red, white, and blue color scheme is the same as the American flag, serving as a reminder that enslaved people and their descendants were and are Americans. The white star in the middle is meant to symbolize the Lone Star of Texas specifically, and also all 50 states united in freedom. The burst surrounding the star represents a nova, the astronomical term for a new star formation, symbolizing the new beginning for the freed enslaved people. Finally, the arc that extends across the flag is a symbolization of the new horizons for the country in the wake of emancipation for all. Watch the following video and complete your own flag to show your support of the holiday!

Create your own flag! The Juneteenth flag tells a story with symbols and helps us remember our country’s history of enslaving people and our country’s quest for freedom. Are there other stories that can be told with a flag? What other histories and freedoms should we remind ourselves of? What symbols and colors could help us do that? Create your own flag and display it! Can’t think of a real history or freedom? Feel free to make a flag using a story from a family or friend, or make up a story!

Connect

When girls collaborate with others and expand their horizons through activities and events, they make meaningful connections between what they have learned and their own lives and communities. Choose one of the following options to link your Juneteenth knowledge to celebrations and social justice movements in your community!