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Hey y’all I know this might come across a little random in our Juneteenth space, but bear with me. I’ve been dealing with this jam called “writing assignments” at uni and realized something wild: the process of writing essays is kinda like the process of uncovering history layer by layer, story by story. So maybe talking about different types of essay writing actually fits here, even if it sounds nerdy AF.

Last semester I had this assignment in my African American Studies class: write a personal narrative and a critical analysis about a historical event tied to Black liberation. That was the first time I had to juggle two totally different essay vibes in one piece. First, I had to tell my story say, what Juneteenth means to me personally, memories from family gatherings, emotional gut‑punch moments. Then I had to pivot into an analytical essay mode contextualizing Juneteenth in history, discussing Reconstruction, systemic shifts, quoting historians. It felt messy, but also kind of liberating.

It got me thinking: real healing work (and education!) is like writing a hybrid essay you bring your heart and lived experience, but you also bring research, historical context, critical thinking. The genres of essays we learn in school narrative, persuasive, expository, analytical all reflect how we process culture, identity, and history.

I went down the rabbit hole on this googling like genres of essays and stumbled across a list of essay types: narrative, descriptive, expository, persuasive, analytical, process analysis, rhetorical analysis… yikes. It made me realize how we’re taught these frameworks as though they’re rigid boxes, but the real world doesn’t fit boxes. History, culture, personal story they don’t live in a single genre. They flow. And I think that flow speaks to what Juneteenth really is: multifaceted, deeply personal, and historically significant all at once.

So, my narrative side is like: summer family cookout in Delaware, the air thick with the smell of corn‑on‑the‑cob, barbecued chicken, and cherry pie. My grandma telling me why Juneteenth matters her voice almost trembling when she describes our ancestors getting word of freedom long after Emancipation. That side of writing? That’s the types of essays in English language that embrace storytelling and emotion.

Then comes the analysis part: digging into what made Juneteenth survive as tradition, how state and federal recognition evolved, why different parts of the country took so long to formally acknowledge it. That’s expository and persuasive territory presenting facts, shaping an argument: Yes, this holiday matters on the national scale, not just locally. And when you ask, “what are the types of essay writing I need to mix to do justice to this topic?” the answer is complicated. But maybe it’s also a blessing it forces you to think and feel across borders, timelines, and perspectives.

Here’s a random thought: what if more school assignments let us write these hybrid pieces? Instead of forcing a narrative or forcing an analysis alone, what if we always invited both? I feel like I’d pay more attention to history if I could talk about how it made me feel, how it shaped my life, not just cite 10 academic sources and call it a day.

Because right now, a lot of schools still ask for “five‑paragraph essays” or stratified formats. And don't even get me started on timed essays I have this visceral memory of sitting in a classroom, blank panic, 45 minutes on the clock, trying to write a persuasive essay on civil rights rhetoric without notes. Brain. Frozen.

But in real life, reflection and research dance together. Learn the emotional stories first, then use the analysis to weave them into a bigger argument: why freedom delayed was still freedom claimed. That, to me, is the kind of writing that helps our culture memorialize Juneteenth not as another date on the calendar, but as living memory we carry forward.

So yeah I hate that “essay” word sometimes. It feels academic, maybe lifeless. But when I think about kinds of essays as tools for preserving story and truth, the vibe shifts. Suddenly writing feels like a place to honor voices like my grandma’s, like local historians, like young activists in Wilmington organizing a parade, or students in Dover speaking up in class. Essays can be a bridge, not just an assignment.

Anyway, that’s my ramble on writing and history and how everything connects. I’m curious have any of y’all written something about Juneteenth, summer freedom celebrations, or local heroes? Maybe it was a school project, a creative piece, a poem, or even a social media post that went deep. What style did you use? Were you more story‑driven, more research‑heavy, or both? Would love to hear some real examples.

Thanks for letting me drop this happy to share tips on blending essay genres, or get tips on where to dig deeper into local history. This space feels like a good place to talk layers and legacies, not just dates.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts