Question

Imagine that you have been asked to help plan a Juneteenth celebration for your town or city. Leadership has asked the community to write letters to the council to show support for the events that are most valuable. You have been asked to write a letter in support of the Juneteenth celebration. Your letter should include:
A summary of the purpose of the celebration
An explanation of the historical importance of Juneteenth
A description of the events you think the celebration should include and their significance
A closing statement of why the council should continue Juneteenth celebrations

Answer 1

Answer: To The City Council:

I believe that a citywide Juneteenth celebration should be started this year, and be an annual celebration.  

Juneteenth has become an annual celebration all across the United States. It has also been known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Second Independence Day, and Liberation Day. It marks the day that the last enslaved people were freed in Texas in 1865. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed two years earlier, many enslaved people in the South did not know they were free until Juneteenth. Ever since, the descendants of enslaved peoples and their friends and supporters have celebrated this special day of freedom.

Our citywide activities should be similar to traditional celebrations, and feature speeches by local leadership on the meaning of Juneteenth, dramatic presentations by local actors and singers, cooking lessons that recreate traditional foods, and traditional music performances, such as the important song "Lift Every Voice and Sing."

This celebration would be a tremendous way to unify our community around an important day for us, and should be held annually.

Sincerely,

Explanation: