Nati Harnik / AP
The Juneteenth flag, commemorating the day that slavery ended in the U.S., flies in Omaha, Neb., Wednesday, June 17, 2020.
Thursday, June 18, 2020 | 2 a.m.
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There are many ways to get involved in the Juneteenth observance.
Locals can buy a Juneteenth-themed face mask, which is designed by famed African American artist Synthia St. James. Proceeds go to Rainbow Dreams Educational Foundation, the Las Vegas nonprofit that annually hosts a Juneteenth celebration. Visit june19lv.com to purchase.
More suggestions from Juneteenth.com include:
• Read the Emancipation Proclamation, the executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln on Jan. 1, 1863, to change the status of 3.5 million blacks from slave to free.
• Watch a historical or popular black movie. Some include: "Within Our Gates," a 1920 movie that is one of the first films by a black director and documents the migration of black women from the South to the North; "Eve’s Bayou," a 1997 film showing how of slavery impacts families generations later; or "Still a Brother: Inside the Negro Middle Class."
• Teach the history of Juneteenth to your children. Regardless of your race, it’s important children know the significance of the observance day.
• Attend a local event. Those are scheduled Friday at Craig Ranch Regional Park, Lorenzi Park and Tropical Breeze Park.
