Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States but it hasn’t received the recognition it deserved until recently. While recognition is nice, it isn’t enough. Words need to be paired with actions, so this year, we’re sharing several resources on the history of Juneteenth and how we can all be better allies, because the best way to celebrate, is to be active.

Juneteenth: How to Learn More

Information is right at your fingertips in today’s age—the trouble is in knowing what to search for and where. We’ve compiled a list of links to start your research on what Juneteenth is and how you can celebrate it intentionally to get you started

You can start off easy, with Wikipedia! There, you can find a straightforward history on what led up to the creation of Juneteenth, including the events of the Civil War, the end of slavery in Texas and its semi-revival in Jim Crow.

Next, you can visit the official Juneteenth website and learn more about the day in its current iteration, how it came to be a federal holiday this week and why many of our peers and activists across the country are asking for more than just an official day of recognition.

Finally, you can end the first leg of your learning journey at the National Museum of African-American History & Culture website, which has compiled an incredible list of resources for future learning, how to celebrate, and where to make donations.

These three links aren’t meant to be the end-all-be-all on Juneteenth—instead, treat them as an accessible way to learn the basics and advance your knowledge and why people are celebrating and how you can join them.

How You Can Help

Now that you know why we have a new federal holiday, you should understand how to best honor it. Every day has its own identity; on Christmas, those who celebrate share gifts with loved ones, on Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who have sacrificed their lives in service for our country, etc. When celebrating Juneteenth, it’s important to remember why we have the day, take action in your community, or add your voice to others speaking up. We’re using our platform to share a few Black-owned print shops and designers with our audience because the paper and print industry is our community and our blog is our voice.

Print Shops*

• Black Paper Creative
• Perfect Image
• BTC Envelopes and Printing, Pennsylvania
• McNealey & Associates
• Kennedy Prints!
• Precision Printing Professionals

Designers*

• Captivating Calligraphy
• WDB Marketing
• Amusement Park
• MJT Design and Print, Illinois
• Black Creative Group

There are many more businesses than we can share in one article, but the ones above are located all over the country and showcase the wide range of services that you can find if you look.

For more print and paper resources, visit our blog.

*This is not an official endorsement of services, as we have not yet that the opportunity to work with everyone on this list. We recommend that you follow your assessment guidelines to make sure that any vendor is right for your job.