#Juneteenth: 5 podcasts and episodes all about the federal holiday’s history

June 19th is Juneteenth, a federal holiday honoring the 1865 emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth has been commemorated for over 157 years, and its celebrations originated in Galveston, Texas. It is a nation-wide holiday acknowledged by governments and corporations.

To learn more about Juneteenth, tune into these 5 podcasts and episodes. On our list, there are informative episodes about the holiday’s history, conversations with academics, activists, and more.

#IDKMYDE

Host B Daht realized he still had a lot to learn and is now eager to share his findings with the world on “#IDKMYDE.” The podcast started as educational Instagram posts with the hashtag #IDKMYDE, standing for “I Didn’t Know Maybe You Didn’t Either.”

On The Black Effect Network’s podcast, B Daht dives into the real history of historical figures, Black cultural words, context, and stories. Check out bite-sized episodes on topics like Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr., and more. To hear more from B Daht, check out his interview with Podsauce.

The Daily

This episode from “The Daily” speaks with Dr. Daina Ramey Berry, a history professor at Austin’s University of Texas. Hear Juneteenth’s history and a conversation on what freedom means now. Plus, 93-year-old Texan and activist Opal Lee joined the conversation to discuss how she campaigned to make Juneteenth a holiday for many years, to honor the freeing of enslaved Americans. Check out this 27-minute episode presented by The New York Times.

Juneteenth Conversations

Dr. Michael G. Cartwright is joined by The University of Indianapolis’ faculty and staff on “Juneteenth Conversations.” The podcast explores Juneteenth’s history, current events, social justice, equality, and inclusion. All 12 episodes are now streaming.

Highkey Woke

“Highkey Woke” is the brainchild of 2 Black professional women, Nopa and Mone. On this year’s Juneteenth episode, the hosts sat down with DEI Professional and content creator, Garrison Hayes. They discussed Critical Race Theory, why it is seen as controversial, and what you should know about it. Last year’s Juneteenth episode shared the holiday’s history, discussed 1 year after George Floyd’s death, and the 100-year anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Black History for White People

“Black History for White People” is an educational series with over 60 episodes, featuring guests like Angela Davis. Episodes discuss Black history and unpack topics like labor unions, Bible words, respectability, and cultural appropriation – just to name a few. The podcast re-aired its Juneteenth episode and shared stories from the past, examined what was happening before the Emancipation Proclamation, and talked about Texas’ culture.