Juneteenth is not even mentioned in the Florida Sunshine State Standards, which is the basic curriculum for all public schools in the state. Education officials say that that needs to change. NBC 6’s Ari Odzer reports.
A Florida city is planning to formally recognize May 20 as the date slaves were emancipated in the state.
The city commission in Lakeland plans to approve a resolution Monday declaring May 20 as Florida Emancipation Day, The Ledger reported.
That would mark the anniversary of when slavery became illegal in the state. It's earlier than the Juneteenth date in which slaves in Texas were informed on June 19, 1865 that they were free.
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In Florida, the date was May 20, 1865, when Union Brigadier Gen. Edward McCook formally announced President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation from the steps of the Knott House in Tallahassee.
Lakeland commissioner Philip Walker says there are efforts around Florida to have cities and counties recognize May 20 as the date of slave emancipation in the state.
