To be completely honest, I don’t remember learning about Juneteenth in school and I’ve never really celebrated it before. I only really became aware of it in recent years thanks to the good ‘ol internet. But this year is different. With the Black Lives Matter movement sweeping the entire world and people being more willing to listen to us and make actual, lasting changes in society, the holiday definitely feels like something we DESERVE to celebrate.
So, What Is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, short for June 19 and also known as Freedom Day, celebrates African American freedom in the United States. On June 19, 1865, two and a half years AFTER President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers finally arrived in Texas to deliver the message that the Confederacy had surrendered two months earlier and that all enslaved people were now free. That’s right, there were slaves in Texas who were not yet freed for TWO AND A HALF YEARS after what’s traditionally thought of as the “ending of slavery.” Until this day, more than 250,000 Black people were still enslaved.
According to Juneteenth.com, this holiday is a “time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future.” Because of this year’s global Black Lives Matter movement, we’re seeing more people than ever become aware and enthusiastic about Juneteenth. As I mentioned above, this will be the first year that I actively celebrate it and it’s something I plan to continue every year from now on.
How To Celebrate Juneteenth If You’re Black
Let me start by saying, your existence is resistance! You ARE your ancestor’s wildest dreams, just by being here. Therefore, you deserve to spend this day however you please, celebrating you and your roots. This year, my company decided to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday and give us the day off. I know that is not the case everywhere, but I do hope that many of you were either given the day off as well or you took the day off. Because this is our Independence Day.
But whether you have to work or not, I hope you can spend some of this day with your family and friends (in person or virtually). Eat good food, enjoy your favorite Black art and media, just relax for once! (@ me.) Whatever it is you need right now, I encourage you to use this time to do it. Call up an elder in your family and ask them about their life — it’s important for us to learn their stories so we can continue to pass them on. Some states, like Texas, have been known to have Juneteenth parades and block parties. Of course, COVID-19 is a damper on some of those plans, but perhaps a small cookout or picnic.
No matter how you choose to spend this day, just remember to be proud and unapologetic of your Blackness. You overcame a history of slavery, segregation, oppression, discrimination, and systematic racism and you continue to do so every single day. The resilience of our people will always be astounding.
How To Celebrate Juneteenth As A Non-Black Ally
The best thing for an ally to do on this day is to continue to educate yourself. Consume Black media, shop a Black-owned business, read a book or articles about Black experiences, etc. Really challenge yourself to take a step back and LISTEN. Don’t judge, don’t get offended. It’s not easy to learn about racism and it may cause you to feel guilty or defensive, but it’s important to remember that learning and actively making steps to do better is what’s important. My favorite poet said it best:
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
Maya Angelou
This is going to be a continuous amount of work that will require daily conversions with yourself and others. So, use Juneteenth as a day of learning and doing. And if you don’t know where to start, check out my BLM resource guide — it has places you can donate, businesses to support, petitions to sign, books to read, and films/shows to watch. And if you’re looking for more information on Juneteenth specifically, here are a few suggested articles:
“This is how we Juneteenth” | The New York Times
“Juneteenth and national new beginnings” | Essence
“History of Juneteenth” | Juneteenth.com
“From Juneteenth to the Tulsa massacre: What isn’t taught in classrooms has a profound impact” | NBC News
How are you spending Juneteenth?
xoxo, Kayla
