Ways to Honor Juneteenth
Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, Liberation Day, or Freedom Day have all been used to recognize what we know today as Juneteenth. But what exactly is Juneteenth and how can we honor it? Although Abraham Lincoln announced the end of slavery in 1863 with the Emancipation Proclamation, Texas continued to have slaves until 1865. It wasn’t until after The Civil War had concluded and troops arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865 that slavery was completely abolished in The United States. From then on Juneteenth has been celebrated and was first named a state holiday in Texas in 1980, followed by other states, and finally ruled a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth is a tremendous day in U.S. history and can be celebrated in many different ways.
Events and Celebrations
Holidays are a time for gatherings and joyous get-togethers, and Juneteenth is no exception! Each year there are more and more events to honor African Americans and the tribulations their ancestors encountered leading up to Juneteenth. Events can range from small carnivals, organized runs, parades, or even festivals! Oftentimes festivals such as the Freedom Festival, Juneteenth in the Streets Festival, and others span across several days of activities, education, concerts, and other celebrations to bring people together for the holiday.
Another event that honors Juneteenth is Opal’s Walk of Freedom. This annual 2.5 mile walk, led by “the grandmother of Juneteenth”, has occurred since 2016 in an effort to continue to fight racism and acknowledge the significance of June 19th. Opal Lee has was a main contributor in advocating for Juneteenth as a federal holiday, and organized the 2.5 mile walk in observance of the time between the Emancipation Proclamation and the actual abolishment of slavery. Participation can be carried out both in person or virtually this year, making it a conveniently honorable way to celebrate!
Just as other summer holidays, Juneteenth cookouts are a staple for this special day in history. Family and social barbecues have been happening since the first anniversary of Juneteenth in 1866. It’s standard for the menu to contain a lot of red throughout all the food and beverages. Whether it be strawberry soda, red velvet cupcakes, or a variety of barbecue sauces for the meat, the color red has multiple meanings for June 19th. Historically, slaves were given very bland foods for their regular meals, so bright red foods were considered a celebratory treat. It is also noted that the color red symbolizes the blood shed of the many African Americans and the poor treatment that they endured before the abolishment of slavery.
Support Brands and Artists
If you want to go beyond attending celebrations for Juneteenth, there are other ways to honor and support this special day in your community. There are a large amount of Black-Owned Businesses in our country, with more products and ideas emerging every day. Honor Juneteenth this year by seeking out these businesses and purchasing from them to support African American entrepreneurs! If you have trouble finding one within your local community, there are plenty of options online including BLK & BOLD, which are working to support at-risk youth, and a contemporary African design company called 54kibo.
Aside from supporting specific businesses, you can also make purchases from Black authors, artists, and musicians who are striving for change in racial equality through their work. Carrie Mae Weems, born in Portland Oregon, studied photography from the past to the present in order to acknowledge the racial stereotypes that were created, while also re-creating these images and giving a voice to those of the past. Andrea Elliots’ Invisible Child is a story drawing attention to the affects on one girl’s life caused by a world full of inequality, crime, and racism. Through her album Stand for Myself, Yola portrays what it has been like to face racial inequality and prejudice throughout her life and career as a dark-skinned black woman. Her album and collaborations were created with the goal of continuing to push the conversation of racial equality and change in the industry and the world.
Donate to Black Equality Organizations
Another way to show support is by donating to one of the many different causes out there that continue to fight for racial equality and ways to improve both the present and future Black communities. Color of Change has become the largest online racial injustice organization through their campaigns that fight for racial equality and injustices found in the workplace, politics, culture, and overall economics of this country. You can donate to 2022’s mission of Ending Police Brutality against Black People here. Following the same path, Campaign Zero is a non-profit organization working directly with legislation, to put an end to people being killed by the police.
There is also The Loveland Foundation which helps to provide therapy resources for young girls and women of color, as well as EmbraceRace. This organization is working to provide communities of parents and early childhood educators with the necessary means and educational tools to instill racial equality into children, as early as possible. These organizations are just a few of the vast amount of causes that you can donate or volunteer with as a way to honor Juneteenth!
Acknowledgement and Continuing Education
One of the main reasons for celebrating Juneteenth is to recognize all the positive ways that African Americans have been successful in achieving racial equality. A great way to make sure the progress continues, is to educate younger generations on the subject. Honor Juneteenth and all that it stands for this year by taking your family to an African American History Museum, such as The National Museum of African American History & Culture, or watch a documentary or even listen to a podcast together! For the really young members of the family, crafts are an interactive way to teach them about history and racial equality.
Lastly, the easiest way to honor and educate those around you for June 19th is by simply acknowledging it. This can be as simple as saying “Happy Juneteenth” to family or co-workers and starting a conversation about it. Or, social media platforms are another way to consistently share information, organizations, events, and more surrounding Juneteenth in order to show your support this year!
sources:Nix, Elizabeth. “What is Juneteenth?”. History, June 17, 2021, https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth. News.
Foster, Sheena. “10 Ways to Celebrate and Commemorate Juneteenth in 2022”. Reader’s Digest, June 13, 2022, https://www.rd.com/list/how-to-celebrate-juneteenth/.
Allievi, Francesca. “15 Contemporary Black Artists Everyone Should Know About”. Kooness, November 23, 2021, https://www.kooness.com/posts/magazine/15-contemporary-black-artists-everyone-should-know-about. Exhibitions and Events, Market,
Reuter, Annie. “Yola Fights for Equal Representation on ‘Stand for Myself’”. Forbes, July 30, 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/anniereuter/2021/07/30/yola-fights-for-equal-representation-on-stand-for-myself/?sh=43d529d27303. Hollywood & Entertainment.