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Why Juneteenth Matters

Some folks may not feel very celebratory this Juneteenth. The continued attacks against our rights, the reduction of our social safety nets, and the looming threat of war all have taken a toll on the collective psyche.

Some folks may not feel very celebratory this Juneteenth. The continued attacks against our rights, the reduction of our social safety nets, and the looming threat of war all have taken a toll on the collective psyche.

But these are reasons why our people absolutely should embrace this year’s Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is specifically the celebration of the liberation of enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. While it is one of the largest “Freedom Day” celebrations, it is not the only one. There are dozens of Freedom Days throughout the country that commemorate when specific populations of enslaved people were liberated from slavery. Juneteenth is one of the largest and most well known.

Juneteenth matters, not for just the fun people will have but for what is at the heart of the holiday.

Juneteenth is, at its core, a celebration of family. On June 19th, 1865, following learning of their liberation, Black folks immediately went in search of their loved ones who were trafficked to other work camps or work sites. They returned to these spaces the following year to commemorate their liberation and reunite with loved ones.

Juneteenth then also centers our community. While established as a Federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth has been widely celebrated by Black folks throughout the nation for well over a century. From barbeques and grilling to parades and block parties, Black people across the nation have celebrated Juneteenth and will continue to celebrate it. Juneteenth is the sole holiday that Black Americans, with our own unique history, heritage, art, music, language, and expression, can be centered. It is the one holiday where our story is the focus, our people are the heart, our history is the focal point, and our resilience and joy are amplified.

Juneteenth is a call to preserve Black History. In light of the onslaught of attacks against it, Black history still prevails. Many institutions are fighting back against the rampant erasure and attack on the teaching of Black history. Activists are combatting the erasure of our stories by the current administration. Educators are continuing to teach Black history despite political pressure. Juneteenth is a reminder to not only remember and reflect on that history, but to preserve and protect it.

Juneteenth is an expression of Black joy. From 1866 to today, Black Americans have found numerous ways to express the joy of Juneteenth. From Reconstruction Era jubilees featuring flower adorned horse drawn wagons to city wide celebrations and parades, there is a deep rooted history of Black joy interwoven into the Juneteenth story.

This joy goes deeper than just parades. The joy felt during Juneteenth is resilient. It is a joy that sustained a people, many for whom liberation was a new concept. How it must have felt for those people to finally own their own breath, to possess oneself fully and finally, to look into the eyes of their children knowing their future was their own. Despite historic horrors and even now with current legislative attacks, that joy endures. It is powerful. It is transcendent. It is felt beyond the burgers and chicken, beyond the red drinks and the dessert table, beyond the music and the dancing. That joy is liberatory, is healing, is restorative, is a legacy we inherit.

Juneteenth matters because Black people matter. Because Black families created it. Because Black community sustains it. Because Black history affirms it. Because Black joy safeguards it. Happy Juneteenth to all who observe. May it be a joyful one.