“Juneteenth should be educational and reflective, but it should also be a celebration of community and family.”
Juneteenth is a holiday that has been unacknowledged for centuries by mainstream society, yet it holds special significance in the African-American community. On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed by Union soldiers that they were free. This “formal” announcement was made nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, and months after the Civil War had largely ended. The commemoration of this mass emancipation is now recognized as the holiday Juneteenth.
The first few decades after the slaves in Texas were officially freed, Juneteenth was primarily celebrated by the descendants of those slaves, with word of the holiday spreading first throughout the South and then to the rest of the states as the freed slaves migrated. In present-day America, while still not recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is celebrated in Black communities as a way to acknowledge the “freedoms” earned in the past and the continued advancement for a better future.
Dr. Farah Griffin, professor and chair of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University, explains that for Black Americans, Juneteenth can be seen as a more historically relevant and accurate holiday to celebrate their independence than the nationally recognized Fourth of July holiday.
“Even though the Fourth of July has always been a holiday that Black Americans celebrated, they didn’t necessarily celebrate it as Independence Day, because our people were still enslaved,” notes Dr. Griffin.
This year, as Americans shed light on the injustices the Black community has endured due to systemic and institutional racism embedded in the country’s history, Juneteenth has become a major part of the conversation.
While Dr. Griffin expresses genuine content about the revitalized interest in African-American history and culture, she also voices her concern with the “warp speed” in which the Juneteenth discussions are happening. She hopes that the holiday does not become commodified like other holidays in the country, lessening the meaning and impact of this significant date for the Black community.
“It’s a great thing that more people are aware of and wish to celebrate Juneteenth, but I know what holidays become in the United States,” says Dr. Griffin. “I know how they become commercialized and watered down and move from their true meaning, which is why I have ambivalence about it.”
Dr. Griffin notes that there is no specific way of celebrating Juneteenth. In certain regions, such as New England, people may focus their celebrations on oratory, while in other regions, like Texas and Louisiana, cookouts and barbecues may be the preferred form of celebration.
As Americans debate whether Juneteenth should be celebrated as a leisure holiday or a day of reflection and service, the happy medium to Dr. Griffin is a little bit of both.
“I think Juneteenth should be educational and reflective, but it should also be a celebration of community and family,” she says. “A celebration of our families and our communities and ourselves – that’s what I hope Juneteenth will become.”
To combat the “superficial flattening” of the holiday that Dr. Griffin is concerned about, she invokes a poignant quote from Toni Morrison: “The function of freedom is to free someone else.”
For those who wish to celebrate Juneteenth this year and in the years to come, here are ways to make your day off more meaningful.
Learn More About African-American History and Culture
Whether it’s watching a movie or series about the Black experience, reading a book, or visiting a museum or art gallery, take part of this day to learn something new about Black culture and its history.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC) released an online portal called “Talking About Race,” which discusses race, racism, and racial identity. This portal provides resources for information and guided discussions, as well as videos and specific questions to help people engage in honest dialogue and self-reflection.
Volunteer at a Voter Registration Organization
Decades after the Emancipation Proclamation and the subsequent amendments were passed into law, African Americans still face disproportionate inequality when it comes to voting in the U.S. Volunteering your time can help bridge this gap.
Invest in Black Lives
Find a way to uplift a Black-led organization that resonates with you. Whether it’s supporting a Black-owned business or setting up a recurring donation to a Black-led organization of your choice, you can contribute to reducing the inequality gap by supporting the Black community with your resources.
