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Juneteenth 2023: Films & Television Shows to Watch Commemorating The Holiday

By Autumn Hawkins
LOUISVILLE, KY - JUNE 19: A young girl sits on a man's shoulders during the Louisville Juneteenth Festival at the Big Four Lawn on June 19, 2021 in Louisville, Kentucky. Juneteenth, or Emancipation Day, commemorates the end of chattel slavery on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, Texas, in compliance with President Lincoln's 1863 Emancipation Proclamation. US President Joe Biden signed legislation into law as Juneteenth National Independence Day on June 17th, 2021.

Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX in 1865. The order was issued to free all enslaved people by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865.

This came two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which issued all slaves to be freed in America. The name “Juneteenth” is the combination of June and nineteenth, the day on which the order was issued. In 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday signed into law by President Joe Biden.

As African Americans celebrate the holiday nationwide, it is important to note that anyone and everyone can learn more about Juneteenth as part of our nation’s history. To start, you can take a look at some Juneteenth 2023 celebratory television specials and films below.

  • 'Atlanta'

    In season 1, episode 9 of Donald Glover’s critically claimed Atlanta, Earn (LaKeith Stanfield) and Van (Zazie Beetz) attend a Juneteenth party. The episode originally aired in 2016 and can be streamed on Hulu.

  • 'High On The Hog'

    While not Juneteenth specific, High On The Hog takes you into a special part of African American culture: the food. The Netflix documentary originally aired in 2021 and is still available on the streaming platform.

  • 'Miss Juneteenth'

    Miss Juneteenth stars Nicole Beharie as Turquoise Jones, a woman who wants her teenage daughter Kai Jones (Alexis Chikaeze) to win the Miss Juneteenth pageant like she did but take on the opportunities winning the crowd will afford her. The film was released in 2020 and now is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

  • 'black-ish'

    On season 4, episode 1 of black-ish, the Johnson family celebrates Juneteenth in a musical-style episode. The show originally aired on October 3, 2017 and can be streamed on Hulu.

  • Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom (CNN)

    CNN will be celebrating Juneteenth with a special concert that will have performances from Miguel, Nelly, and Chlöe Bailey will be doing a tribute to Tina Turner. According to a statement, CNN’s Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom “promises to be an unforgettable event that pays homage to the past, celebrates the present, and looks forward to a future filled with unity and equality.”

    The special will be broadcast on CNN and OWN at 8 p.m. ET on June 19.

    Take a look at last year’s celebration above.

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