Juneteenth, Texas, and Me: The Importance of Education & Truth
I grew up in Texas.
Houston, to be exact.
Home of Beyoncé, BBQ, bayous, and the birthplace of Juneteenth.
But somehow, despite taking Texas History as an actual class, I was not taught the full story. I never learned about Juneteenth in school.
Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, when enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed that they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. That delay wasn’t just a glitch in communication. It was a painful and intentional extension of slavery and injustice. And yet, despite that pain, Juneteenth has grown into a symbol of resilience, joy, and truth-telling.
Juneteenth is not just Black history. It is American history. And as such, it should be taught to every American.
A whole holiday, born in my home state, and not a single textbook or classroom conversation about it. They taught about the Alamo. We talked about cowboys and oil. But somehow, Juneteenth got buried deeper than any treasure map in those history books.
I spent part of my childhood in Germany before my family made their way back to Texas, where I would spend most of my school years. My parents were young and hardworking. I am forever grateful for all they did. They believed living in a nice neighborhood would open the doors to better educational opportunities.
Unfortunately, the neighborhood my parents worked hard to get us into and the schools to attend meant there was little to no representation. I once got in trouble with a teacher, who had no business being around children of color, for sitting down too early during the Texas Pledge. Yes, Texas has its own pledge to the Texas flag. Yes, we recited that pledge daily. My mom thought I was so radical at that time for speeding through the pledge and sitting before all of my classmates were finished. I like to think I was a community activist in the making. Even in 7th grade, I wondered how I could pledge loyalty to a flag when I didn’t feel seen under it.
Thankfully, I learned about Juneteenth outside of school. I was raised in a community that filled in the gaps. I was surrounded by people who looked like me that I aspired to be like: my family, community organizers, and philanthropists. I learned history through conversation, testimony, and songs. The truth is, the people in my community and my family taught me what the school system did not. They taught me to be proud and to seek the whole story, even when it wasn’t being offered in the classroom. I even learned to be patriotic, but not in the way it was being taught in school, but in a way that was rooted in truth and honor. Education should be complete, accurate, and empowering. It should tell the whole story, not just the more palatable parts.
I never forget where I come from, what I've learned, and from whom I learned it. I write about it. I vote because of it. I educate others through it.
I’m still the activist I was in 7th grade.
Still asking questions.
Still sitting where I see fit.
Still standing for what’s right.
And I’m proud of that.
Because history isn’t just what’s in the books, it’s what we fight to remember. And what we refuse to erase.
This moment in education is so critical. We are in an era where educational policies and political agendas are restricting what can be taught. Some states are banning books, limiting curricula, and stripping classrooms of any content that reflects the full truth of this country’s past.
We have to stay active so that students can learn about ALL history. That means voting in every election, from the school board to the Senate. That means showing up for candidates and policies that believe in inclusive, honest education. That means standing up for the kind of history that liberates, not erases.
I believe in joy. I believe in truth. I believe that Juneteenth represents both. And I believe we can build an education system that tells the full story.
- Katherine M. White