What is Juneteenth and Why Celebrate it

With everything that is going on in the world today affecting the Black community, this year’s celebration of Juneteenth will be even more special and significant. The killing of unarmed black men and women is at an alarming rate in the last few years. It’s imperative that the Black community and others understand the history of Juneteenth and why we celebrate Juneteenth. 

 

 

 

Celebrating Juneteenth isn’t new for some black folks; however, with the attention being on Black Lives [matter] and the injustices we are facing so blatantly now, more black folks are interested in understanding exactly how, why, and when our freedom was granted. 

 

Juneteenth is the oldest and only holiday that celebrates black folk’s freedom from slavery. Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Cel-Liberation Day, is an American holiday celebrated annually on June 19. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas, that all previously enslaved people in Texas were free. For more info about Juneteenth, visit juneteenth.com

 

The celebrating received its name due to the fact the slaves were freed on June 19 so the celebration was named by combing the date and month. 

 

Juneteenth is celebrated by any means necessary. The black community is no stranger to throwing a party, get together, or a big celebration. All around the world, black organizers plan big events to bring the black community and others together for a day of remembrance, a day of prayer, a day of fun. 

 

Juneteenth is celebrated on a grand scale where anyone in the city/state can come out and participate; however, in recent years, black families have gathered in their backyards or in parks to have their own private celebration of Juneteenth. There will be singing, dancing, BBQ, and just good old fashion black folks celebrating the win for their ancestors and now for them. 

 

 

 

Don’t get it twisted and think that just because the black community will have music playing, card games going, and having a good time that they don’t understand what is happening to them TODAY. In the wake of the deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, Oluwatoyin Salau, and countless others at the hands of police or the mysterious deaths of black people, the black community is valiant in keeping the attention on the injustices and the disregard for our freedom and rights as Blacks. 

 

Juneteenth also signifies just how delayed justice and freedom are to black people. Slaves were freed by the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863; however, the slaves didn’t know that. Slavery was abolished in December 1865 by the ratification of the 13th Amendment; however, black folks/slaves were still being lynched, unjustly imprisoned, and discriminatory practices surrounding education, housing, and employment. 

 

You read that last paragraph and it was eerily similar to today’s environment for blacks.  Juneteenth will be used as a moment to celebrate our ancestor’s tenacity to fight for our freedom and we will use that day to reflect on the strides and the movement to eradicate the killing of unarmed black men and women and the systematic racism that still exists today. 

 

There are several ways you can get involved to push the agenda and the purpose of Juneteenth. Below is a list of ideas, choose one or two, and get involved.

 

1. Due to COVID-19, the national events are scaled down or canceled. You could spend that day contacting your local elected representatives and ask for them to demand stiffer sentences for cops that have killed unarmed black men and women. 

 

2. Due to Juneteenth not being recognized as a National Holiday, if you have to work that day, celebrate at work. Use this opportunity to invite a guest speaker to educate your coworkers/teams/employees about the significance of Juneteenth. 

 

3. If you are the employer, give your employees the day off to volunteer at local nonprofits that are hosting Juneteenth events or serving the community highly affected by systemic racism. 

 

I will end this post with a quote I read on Ben and Jerry’s website: 

Juneteenth was born of one of our country’s darkest hours, but today we celebrate in the light of laughter, good food, family, and freedom.

But the fight isn’t over — you can join the movement for justice for people of color treated unequitably by the criminal justice system today. 

Get involved. Speak up. Stop the killing of unarmed black men and women. Use your voice and/or your privilege to eradicate the injustices black people face daily.