Our last Family Day focused on Juneteenth.
The important news that slavery in the U.S. had ended reached the state of Texas on June 19, 1865 (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation). Now, every year on June 19, Juneteenth celebrates the end of American slavery. This holiday is also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day and Emancipation Day.
People honor Juneteenth in many ways. From parties and parades to remembering and learning, it is a special time to celebrate freedom and Black liberation. Liberation means both setting something free and freedom from control.
The end of slavery in the United States made the world a better place. What is a positive change you would like to see happen? Tell someone you are with about it.
Jacob Lawrence (American, 1917 – 2000), “Children at Play,” 1947. Tempera on hardboard panel, 20 × 24 inches. Georgia Museum of Art, University of Georgia; Eva Underhill Holbrook Memorial Collection of American Art, Gift of Alfred H. Holbrook. GMOA 1947.178.
The artist Jacob Lawrence is well known for a series of 60 paintings that show scenes of the Great Migration. Although slavery was over, a new oppressive system called Jim Crow took its place. These laws in the southern U.S. enforced racial segregation. Many African Americans moved north in search of a better life. Lawrence’s parents were among them.
Take a closer look at this painting. What do you notice about it? It is called “Children at Play.” Lawrence grew up in Harlem, New York. He was inspired by the people he saw around him. He wanted to paint scenes of his African American community.
Now it is your turn to draw a special scene from your everyday life or kids playing your favorite game.
You’ll need the following supplies:
- canvas panel or nice paper
- markers
- scrap paper
- pencil
- kraft paper or newspaper
To make your drawing:
- Cover your work area with newspaper or kraft paper for easy clean-up.
- Sketch out some examples of your scene first on the scrap paper with a pencil.
- Think about how you can draw things as geometric shapes with straight edges the way that Jacob Lawrence did with his scenes.
- Draw a scene that captures something special like your favorite game to play.
- Let the markers dry and then hang your art somewhere special.