Juneteenth, Literacy, and the Power of Information

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and delivered news that should have already been known: all enslaved people were free. The Emancipation Proclamation had been signed over two years earlier, but many enslaved people in Texas hadn’t been told. The delay was no accident. It was part of a larger system of control that depended on denying people access to information and denying them the right to literacy.

For generations, enslaved people were explicitly prohibited from learning to read and write. Anti-literacy laws across the South criminalized education for Black Americans. Those who taught enslaved people to read risked fines, violence, or worse. For enslaved individuals, being caught reading could mean brutal punishment or death. Why such extreme measures? Because literacy has power. Literacy can give people the tools to organize and, ultimately, resist.

This legacy of withholding knowledge as a form of oppression is one of the many reasons Juneteenth holds deep meaning for us at the English Skills Learning Center. We believe literacy is not just about reading words on a page. It is about being able to engage with the world, advocate for yourself and your family, and navigate the systems that exist in the community.

Juneteenth reminds us that access to information, education, and language is deeply connected to freedom and justice. When people are denied literacy, they are denied power. But when people gain access to the language of the majority, they gain the tools to tell their own stories and shape their futures.

As we commemorate Juneteenth, we remember the resilience of those who waited far too long to hear the word “freedom.” We honor their legacy by continuing the work of breaking down barriers to education and ensuring that access to learning is a right, not a privilege.

If you’d like to learn more about the history and significance of Juneteenth, we recommend these trusted sources:

• The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth – Smithsonian NMAAHC

• What Is Juneteenth? – History.com

• Juneteenth – Britannica

• Why Juneteenth Took So Long to Become a Holiday – NPR

• Anti-Literacy Laws in the United States – Wikipedia

Thank you for standing with us in the belief that language and literacy are keys to equity—and that everyone, regardless of background, deserves the chance to learn, grow, and have their voices celebrated!