Have you heard of Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day? More importantly, how do you honor Juneteenth? I’ve got a general idea but don’t know as much as I’d like to know about this important day of commemoration, so I did some research and, honest opinion, it should be the actual American Independence Day because it marks the day all of us became free.
Juneteenth, June 19, 1865, commemorates the day (two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation and two months after the Civil War ended) when hundreds of thousands of slaves in Galveston, Texas, finally found out they were free. Let that sink in for a minute: Not only were these people bought and sold like property, even after they were emancipated, but it also took years for society to actually let them enjoy that freedom.
Juneteenth is a pivotal moment in the history of Black America. It commemorates the day that Black people were officially given notice of their own freedom. Although it marks the beginning of a long and arduous struggle for human equality and respect that continues even today, it celebrates the resilient spirit of Black America and Black joy despite everything they've endured. As Americans who treasure our freedom, we must honor Juneteenth and celebrate Black joy every single day. Below are 15 ways to honor "Juneteenth" this year.
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Be Part of the Solution
Attend a local demonstration. Seriously, fight the power. If you believe in freedom and equality, fight for freedom and equality for everyone, not just the people who look like you. Joining a demonstration for racial justice or the #BLM movement is the perfect way to celebrate Juneteenth.
Buy From Black-Owned Businesses
Consciously choosing to purchase goods and services from Black-owned businesses is another appropriate way to celebrate and contribute to Black joy. If you’re spending money anyway, why not support Black businesses and entrepreneurs as well?
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Embrace Black Media
A wonderful way to support the Black community is by embracing Black media: television, movies, music, and streaming services that elevate Black voices and support the Black community. See them. Hear them. Make an effort to know the stories and to learn their culture.
Educate Yourself on Black Culture
Take a genuine interest in the Black experience. No one expects non-Black people to know what it’s like to be a Black person if they're not living that life. But there are things everyone can do to become less offensive, more respectful, and more educated. Start by taking a cultural sensitivity class taught by a Black educator.
Amplify Black Voices
Voices carry. If you listen, you will learn, and if you learn, you grow. Black culture and Black people are a huge part of what makes America so beautiful and diverse. Read Black writers and bloggers, listen to Black poets, podcasters, and lyrics, and elevate their influence by expanding their reach.
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Donate to Racial Justice Causes & Organizations
A beautiful and effective way to honor Juneteenth is by donating to racial justice organizations and causes. If all else fails and you want to help but don’t know what specifically you can do, donating to help further civil rights and racial justice programs is an effective way to show your support for all that the Black community has endured throughout history.
Learn Black History
Black history in America may not be something you are familiar with, or maybe it’s something you’re uncomfortable with discussing, but those who do not know history are destined to repeat it. How can we learn to honor the Black experience if we don’t know it from their perspective, don’t know the accurate history, and don’t accept it as the atrocity it was? It’s shameful to know the inhumane way America treated enslaved people, but we have to remember it in order to stay humble, move forward, and do better.
Attend a Local Juneteenth Event
If you live in a city where an annual Juneteenth event is planned, attend it. Celebrations are made to support a community. By attending, not only will you be showing support for the Black community, but you also will be interacting, learning about, and immersing yourself in the celebration while supporting Black vendors and entertainers preforming at the event.
Visit a Museum Dedicated to Black Culture
There are several museums that focus on Black history and civil rights. If you want to honor Juneteenth, go to one of these museums or exhibits and take it all in. Slowly walk through the galleries, read the plaques, and immerse yourself in the experience. You’ll never know what it is like to live in Black skin, but at least you’ll have a more comprehensive understanding and in doing so, be a better human being.
Learn About Juneteenth as a Family
Juneteenth is just another day of the year if you don’t understand the significance of the occasion. It can’t be celebrated if there is no reverence for the day. This year, check out an age-appropriate book and read it with your children and teach them what Juneteenth is, what it means, and how to honor it.
Watch a Movie or Series About the Black Experience
This is more than just about supporting Black actors and entertainers. By watching Black movies and series, you can learn about what it’s like to live the Black experience by discussing race, racism, and racial identity. Only through open and honest dialogue can we all self-reflect and do better.
Volunteer To Help Register Black Voters
Representation matters. Black people make up 13.4% of the US population, yet they still face disproportionate inequality in voting representation. To make their voices heard, help Black Americans get registered and cast their votes.
Make Juneteenth a National Holiday
Just like it took two and a half years after the fact to inform Black people they had been emancipated. It’s been 156 years and while Juneteenth is federal holiday (as of 2021), it is still not a national holiday. Whether you believe it should be a silent day of reflection or a day of celebrating the day all Americans became free, sign the petition and show your support.
Celebrate Freedom
Commemorate the freedom of your Black brothers and sisters, freedom for all, together. It can take the form of a big barbecue block party with friends and family or a dinner party with sparklers and close friends. The important thing is to honor such an important day in our history.
Never Forget
You can't celebrate freedom without acknowledging the atrocities of slavery and the ongoing struggle for equality and racial justice. Remember that Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the strong Black heroes who fought so hard and continue to fight for their equality while enduring unspeakable horrors. Celebrate with reverence.
