Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom’s Stories Screening

Co-hosted with the Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics at the Annenberg Public Policy Center, University of Pennsylvania

Produced by Annenberg Classroom, the film Juneteenth: Exploring Freedom’s Stories explores the history of Juneteenth and illustrates how and why freedom and citizenship were intertwined, as well as how the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution changed and expanded the definition of citizenship and the rights of all American citizens.

Following a screening of the film, HSP will host a community conversation with Philadelphia-based public historians and historical interpreters on how Juneteenth has been marked in the city in recent decades. They will also share stories of freedom celebrations pre-dating 1865 and will discuss the role of local groups in expanding the history and narrative of Black emancipation. Documents and prints from HSP’s collection that illustrate the story of the free Black community in pre-Civil War Philadelphia will be on view.