How to Celebrate Juneteenth in 2021
Written by Carra Oteto
Is this your first time celebrating Juneteenth? Have you always celebrated it? This year, Juneteenth falls on a Saturday, and each year, more and more people learn about the holiday and find new and traditional ways to celebrate the historic day.
I have some great ideas on how you, your family, and friends can observe the holiday, plus you could even share the resources with others in your circle.
Image from Dallas Weekly
What is Juneteenth?
Celebrated on June 19, Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day, is a day to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States of America.
With today’s rise of social activism and advocacy, awareness of Juneteenth has grown more than ever. There has been an increase of books, pop culture shows, and documentaries that brings additional recognition to the holiday. Since then, many companies throughout the country have begun to honor Juneteenth as a national holiday.
Why do we celebrate the holiday?
The most prominent question that comes to mind when first introduced to the remarkable holiday is why do we celebrate it in the first place?
Many Americans celebrate Juneteenth in honor of one of the final acts of emancipation of slaves in the United States of America. Juneteenth commemorates the day in 1865 when the enslaved people of Texas, then the most remote region of the Confederacy, finally learned slavery had been abolished and that they were free.
Why is it called Juneteenth?
You may have wondered why the holiday wasn’t simply called “June-nineteenth?” Great question.
The name is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth” in honor of the date of June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger rode into town and made the announcement in Galveston, Texas.
A highly influential day such as this deserved a unique and exceptional name, and it became Juneteenth.
Celebrate Juneteenth with the traditional dessert, strawberry pie
How do we celebrate?
Tip #1: With food of course!
Everyone loves a good summertime cookout, but nothing beats a barbeque or picnic featuring traditional African American music and hymns. The celebration also usually includes the traditional drink, strawberry soda, and dessert, strawberry pie.
Other red foods such as red rice (rice with tomatoes), watermelon, and red velvet cake are also popular during this time. The red foods symbolize the blood that was spilled during the days of slavery.
Apart from that, various cookout foods (hot dogs, burgers, corn, chicken wings, ribs, deviled eggs, etc.) are also prepared, and you can surely add your own spice and recipes to the barbeque, as well.
Tip #2: In-person events around the city
Although we couldn’t celebrate in person last year, this year Grand Rapids has some free, family-friendly events for those who would like to gather at outdoor celebrations.
Momma Jewel with West Michigan Jewels of Africa LLC local traditional African Drum and Dance Group will be hosting the annual Dickinson Park Dundunba on Saturday, June 19 from 12:30–7 p.m. Event details here.
Justice 4 All Juneteenth Jam! is the first event thrown in Grand Rapids to celebrate African American culture and pays homage to Juneteenth on Saturday, June 19 from 1–5 p.m. Event details here.
Black Impact Collaborative is excited to host an outdoor roller-skating event during Juneteenth weekend, June 18–20 from 3–9 p.m. daily. Event details here.
Image from Eventbrite
Tip #3: A virtual event you can access from home
Juneteenth Celebration with Miz Rosie. Storyteller and performance artist Miz Rosie Chapman (she/her) will share the story of Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad on Saturday, June 19 from 10–11 a.m. Event Details here.
Tip #4: How about a book or two?
You can scan through this list of books to celebrate Juneteenth with the Grand Rapids Public Library and add one to your summer reading list!
Tip #5: Documentaries and other visual presentations
Watch these documentaries about race in America while you reflect leading up to Juneteenth.
Watch and learn why all Americans should honor Juneteenth, a YouTube story by Vox, as told by Karlos K. Hill, a historian and Black studies professor. This visual story features former slave narratives, music, and small snippets of former slaves sharing about the importance of freedom to them.
While you’re still on YouTube, you can also watch A Juneteenth story from the Washington Post, as told by Hari Jones of the African American Civil War Museum.
You can also share an animated visual of the Juneteenth story by BrainPOP with children. This story tells the origin of the holiday and how former slaves found out about it. It also shares how it was celebrated during its early years, as well as how the holiday spread over years to come.
Tip #6: Additional resources and educational documents
Read this article to find out the history of how Juneteenth came about.
You can also read this article which lists facts, history, and other ways to celebrate Juneteenth right at home and in your neighborhood.
Hop onto Twitter and check out the tweet thread detailing Black creators to check out and celebrate during Juneteenth and beyond!
Lastly, check out this Juneteenth educator’s tool from Learning for Justice and add Juneteenth to your next learning plan.
(Some resources on this list are courtesy of the Harm Reduction Coalition)
If this is your first year celebrating Juneteenth, I hope you enjoy one or all my tips on ways to observe the holiday. Juneteenth will be one of the holidays we at United Way continue to honor moving forward, and I hope you get a chance to take part in the celebration with those closest to you. Happy Juneteenth, everyone!