Juneteenth Trivia Questions: 50 Questions Honoring Freedom & History
Juneteenth is more than a date—it’s a powerful symbol of freedom, resilience, and the ongoing journey toward justice. Celebrated each year on June 19, it marks the day when the last enslaved people in the U.S. were finally freed in Texas, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This quiz honors the legacy of Juneteenth with 50 questions exploring its origins, heroes, traditions, and cultural impact.
Answers are provided at the end—let this be a celebration of learning and remembrance.
✊🏾 Juneteenth Trivia Questions
🗓️ History & Origins
- What date is Juneteenth celebrated each year?
- What does the word “Juneteenth” represent?
- In what year was the first Juneteenth celebration held?
- Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in which U.S. state?
- What year did Union troops arrive in Galveston, Texas to announce freedom?
- What was the name of the Union general who delivered the news in Texas?
- What was the name of the order that officially freed slaves in Texas?
- Which U.S. president issued the Emancipation Proclamation?
- What year was the Emancipation Proclamation issued?
- Why did it take so long for the Emancipation Proclamation to reach Texas?
🇺🇸 U.S. Law & Government
- In what year did Juneteenth become a federal holiday?
- Who was the U.S. president when Juneteenth became a national holiday?
- What is the name of the woman known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth”?
- Which amendment to the U.S. Constitution officially abolished slavery?
- What date was the 13th Amendment ratified?
- What Southern practice was used to restrict Black freedom after emancipation?
- What state was the first to make Juneteenth an official holiday?
- In what year did that state declare Juneteenth a holiday?
- What are “Black Codes”?
- What is the significance of General Order No. 3?
🎉 Traditions & Celebrations
- What color is prominently featured in Juneteenth celebrations to symbolize resilience?
- What kind of food is traditionally eaten at Juneteenth celebrations?
- What sweet red beverage is commonly served?
- What flower is often used as a symbol in Juneteenth events?
- What activities are common during Juneteenth celebrations?
- What does the red, white, and blue Juneteenth flag represent?
- What symbol is in the center of the Juneteenth flag?
- What is the significance of the flag’s arc?
- What major U.S. retailer closed its stores for Juneteenth starting in 2020?
- What type of performances are often featured at Juneteenth events?
🧠 Knowledge & Culture
- What was the name of the first major celebration park for Juneteenth in Texas?
- Which city is known for having one of the largest annual Juneteenth celebrations?
- What does Juneteenth primarily honor?
- What year was the last known group of enslaved people freed in the U.S.?
- What role did freed people play in the creation of Juneteenth traditions?
- What southern city held one of the earliest known Juneteenth parades?
- How is Juneteenth taught or recognized in schools today?
- What is the name of the enslaved man who created the first written account of Juneteenth?
- What modern movement helped increase awareness of Juneteenth nationwide?
- What music genres are commonly featured during Juneteenth?
📚 Media, Art & Recognition
- What children’s book author wrote Juneteenth for Mazie?
- What 2020 film on Netflix included Juneteenth in its storyline and songs?
- What Black American artist created a well-known Juneteenth flag design in 1997?
- What television show hosted a full Juneteenth musical episode in 2017?
- What national museum hosts special Juneteenth events annually?
- What are the Pan-African colors often associated with Juneteenth?
- What film features Denzel Washington and addresses post-slavery realities?
- What does Juneteenth represent in terms of freedom?
- What’s the importance of storytelling and oral history in Juneteenth events?
- What national organization pushed for decades to make Juneteenth a federal holiday?
✅ Juneteenth Trivia Answers
History & Origins
- June 19
- A blend of “June” and “nineteenth”
- 1866
- Texas
- 1865
- General Gordon Granger
- General Order No. 3
- Abraham Lincoln
- 1863
- Texas was isolated and delayed enforcement until Union troops arrived
U.S. Law & Government
- 2021
- Joe Biden
- Opal Lee
- 13th Amendment
- December 6, 1865
- Black Codes
- Texas
- 1980
- Laws limiting freedoms of African Americans after emancipation
- It formally informed Texans that enslaved people were free
Traditions & Celebrations
- Red
- Barbecue (ribs, brisket, hot links, etc.)
- Red punch or red soda
- Hibiscus
- Parades, speeches, family reunions, and music
- That formerly enslaved Americans are U.S. citizens
- A bursting star (symbol of new freedom)
- New horizons for Black Americans
- Nike
- Poetry readings, gospel choirs, jazz and soul concerts
Knowledge & Culture
- Emancipation Park (Houston)
- Houston, Texas
- The end of slavery in the United States
- 1865
- They initiated parades and celebrations in Texas
- Galveston, Texas
- Through educational programs, Black history units, and school assemblies
- Felix Haywood
- Black Lives Matter Movement
- Gospel, jazz, R&B, and hip-hop
Media, Art & Recognition
- Floyd Cooper
- Jingle Jangle
- Ben Haith
- Black-ish
- Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Red, black, green
- Glory
- Freedom delayed and finally recognized
- They preserve personal and cultural legacy across generations
- National Juneteenth Observance Foundation (NJOF)