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The Emancipation Proclamation ended slavery, this we know. But what does Juneteenth celebrate? Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, but it would be two full years before enslaved Africans living in the Confederate state of Texas received word of their freedom. On June 19, 1865, Union troops led by General Gordon Granger announced to enslaved Africans living in Texas that they were free.
In the early days of celebration, Juneteenth — a term likely first coined in 1909 — families would gather in churches across the south or celebrate with picnics, barbeques, horseback riding, rodeos, and even quilting bees. On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became a federal holiday, bringing well-deserved — albeit at times tone-deaf — attention to this important part of Black history. Read on to learn how to celebrate Juneteenth, how to plan a Juneteenth event for coworkers, friends, and family members, and also, how not to celebrate this important day.
Ideas for your Juneteenth family celebration
If you're looking for ideas on how to celebrate Juneteenth at home, there are several ways to do so. DIY Juneteenth crafts are a great way to decorate for a family gathering or dinner party. Greet your guests with this Juneteenth mesh wreath from Rhonda Nickerson.
You could also host a family movie night with a screening of the 2020 movie Miss Juneteenth, the story of a single mom working to prepare her daughter for an upcoming pageant that has the power to change her life, despite her lack of interest in all things pageantry.
"It wasn't until I was in college that I learned about Juneteenth. How is it possible that I went through grade school without ever knowing about it, and nobody teaching me about it?" Kay Apkan wrote on her blog, The Mom Trotter. "This is one of the reasons I decided to homeschool my son. I didn't want Black History Month to be the only time he ever learned anything valuable about being Black."
If Juneteenth is a new holiday for your family or you just want to learn more right along with your kids, summer break is a great time to extend the learning of the school year. These homeschool lessons for Juneteenth can easily be incorporated into fun summer learning activities for all students. Some ideas include copywork practice, a Juneteeth flag craft, and delicious recipes you can make with your kids.
How to celebrate Juneteenth at work
If you're tasked with organizing a Juneteenth celebration in a professional setting and want to know how to celebrate Juneteenth at the office, the key is to ensure that there's representation on the planning committee. Recent news stories indicate that there's much work to be done in terms of sensitivity training and education overall.
"The reality is there are probably more white Americans who have become aware of Juneteenth in the past two weeks than had been aware of it in any other period of time, Mark Anthony Neal, African American studies director at Duke University, told WBUR. "And it's not unusual that we have this dynamic where there are everyday practices and ceremonies in Black communities that white America [is] largely oblivious to. So it feels different in that way.
"It also feels different because there's also now a kind of commercial aspect of it that I guess we could have anticipated," Neal added.
For businesses hoping to celebrate Juneteenth in a respectful and inclusive way, inviting Black business owners to come to speak at your event or hosting a book signing is a great way to celebrate the community. If your event involves food, seek out local Black-owned restaurants, rental companies, and entertainment. Community service is also a great way to foster team-building and give back at the same time.
How NOT to celebrate Juneteenth
As Neal mentioned above, Juneteenth has been commercialized. Last month Walmart released its own Great Value ice cream with basic Juneteenth branding in honor of the holiday, but removed it from the shelves after receiving backlash for not highlighting Black-owned ice cream brands like Creamalicious instead.
A children's museum in Indiana received similar criticism after promoting a Juneteenth watermelon salad at their food court. Stereotypes around Black individuals and watermelon began shortly after the Emancipation Proclamation, when many of the formerly enslaved began growing and selling watermelon and other produce for their livelihood. White Americans' attitudes toward emancipation stoked the fires of hate resulting in stereotypes associating African Americans and watermelon with childishness and laziness — this trope spread in print culture through the 1860s and beyond.
Juneteenth meal ideas
Red was a significant color for enslaved African ancestors in Central and West Africa. It was revered for its spiritual significance and its symbolism. Red food and drink were part of the first Juneteenth celebrations, and the tradition has continued over the years.
Drinks made from the red hibiscus flower and red fruits like watermelon — we talked about the nuances of that above — and strawberries took center stage. With the advent of red food coloring in the 1920s, foods with artificial coloring like sodas, and later cake mixes, became a popular addition during Juneteenth celebrations.
If you're looking for Juneteenth meal ideas that work well for a backyard barbeque or family reunion, consider getting together with the family and incorporating red foods in the form of a potluck. Anything red velvet — like these cinnamon rolls — iced hibiscus tea, red rice or Jollof rice, barbecue ribs, and a healthy fruit salad will be great additions to your menu.
