Celebrating Juneteenth
Bankhead Free Ride by Derek Fordjour
Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress. It's an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible––and there is still so much work to do. - President Barack Obama
Today we’re honoring Juneteenth. Juneteenth, officially known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday in the United States on June 19th each year. The holiday celebrates the end of slavery in America and has been referred to as the longest running African-American holiday. On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger alongside 2,000 troops, notified over 250,000 remaining slaves in Galveston Texas that they were indeed free. This announcement was made two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was made on January 1, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. Since then, Juneteenth has been celebrated throughout various places in the country, mostly in the South. Dr. Opal Lee, a retired school teacher and activist, became a prominent figure in trying to establish the regional celebration into a federal holiday. In 2021, Juneteenth was signed into law by President Joe Biden and became the newest federal holiday in the U.S. On Juneteenth, we pause and recognize the strides and progress of the Black community. It’s a time to celebrate the many dreamers, achievers, innovators, and culture shifters who have contributed to society as we know it today. Those who dared to push the culture forward, to demand equality and justice for all. While it is always important to remember our past, how can we continue to preserve freedom today? We are making history by the choices we make, the trends we set, the information we release, and the minds we influence. No one is free until we’re all free. Everyone benefits from freedom, equality, liberty, and justice. This Juneteenth, Eight Eleven is celebrating Black freedom and the hope for equality and justice for all.
Ways to Celebrate Freedom on Juneteenth and Beyond:
Support local Black-owned businesses in your local area.
Eat at a local Black-owned restaurant.
Donate to civil rights organizations such as Equal Justice Initiative, National Urban League, Color of Change, and NAACP.
Host a cookout including traditional foods: barbecue, collard greens, sweet potato pie, potato salad, red soda, hibiscus tea, and red velvet cake.
Visit a local art or African American history museum to participate in holiday activities and learn more about Black culture.
Visit a local library to find books, resources, and community events that honor Black culture and teach about the importance of freedom, liberty, and community.
Read up on the history of Juneteenth with books that enlighten including On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon Reed and What is Juneteenth? for young readers.
Attend and donate to a Black rodeo event in your local area. Black rodeos are a traditional holiday activity rich in history. Oftentimes, they aren’t represented in traditional rodeo culture.
Encourage DEI and cultural competence inside of your workplace. Review and implement certain policies that encourage an open and supportive environment for all employees regardless of background.
Make sure you’re registered to vote by checking your voter registration status at WhenWeAllVote.org.
