Juneteenth celebrates the final emancipation of enslaved people in the United States in 1865. As an organization, we commemorate this holiday by continuing to understand the racial inequities, inequality, and injustice faced by the Black community.
On Juneteenth, our team members are given a day off to celebrate and commemorate the creativity, joy, and contributions of the Black community.
- Enlighten and Learn
Even though the Proclamation Declaration was signed in 1863 declaring the end of slavery, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, two years later, that enslaved people were officially emancipated. Learning the history behind Juneteenth and the systemic injustice Black people endured and still face today is critical to understanding why this holiday is so significant.
Spend Juneteenth reflecting by reading a book, listening to a podcast, or even watching a movie/series. Below are some recommendations from our team members.
Read a Book
- Just Mercy – A Story of Justice and Redemption – Bryan Stevenson
- So You Want to Talk About Race – Ijeoma Olou
- Born a Crime – Trevor Noah
- How to be An Antiracist – Ibram X. Kendi
- Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man – Emanuel Acho
- Devil in the Grove – Gilbert King
- Why are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria – Beverly Daniel Tatum, Phd
- The Hidden Rules of Race: Barriers to an Inclusive Economy – Flynn, Holmberg, et al
- The New Jim Crow – Michelle Alexander
- An African American and Latinx History of the United States – Paul Ortiz
- This Book is Anti-Racist – Tiffany Jewell & Aurelia Durand
- When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir – Patrisse Khab-Cullers & Asha Bandele
- Their Eyes Were Watching God – Zora Neale Hurston
- White Fragility – Robin D’Angelo
Watch a Movie or Series
- 13th – Netflix
- The Amend – Netflix
- Dear White People – Netflix
- Malcolm X – Netflix
- When They See Us – Netflix
- I am Not Your Negro – Amazon Prime
- The Last Black Man in San Francisco – Amazon Prime
- Marshall – Amazon Prime
- John Lewis documentary – PBS
- The Apollo – HBO
- Just Mercy
- Selma
- Glory Road
- American Son
- Miss Juneteenth
Find a Podcast
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/courtstroud/2021/02/11/12-podcasts-to-download-during-black-history-month-and-beyond/?sh=1b23f0313db0
- https://podcasts.google.com/
- https://www.apple.com/apple-podcasts/
- Attend Juneteenth Events in Your Community
Many communities host Juneteenth events to highlight Black-owned businesses, non-profits, Black-inspired music and dance, traditional meals and more! These events are typically family-friendly and a great way to immerse yourself in Black culture.
Interested in finding a Juneteenth event near you? Here are a few websites to get your search started!
- www.eventbrite.com
- https://www.strideevents.com/find-US-events-by-state
- https://www.facebook.com/events/
- Support Black-Owned Businesses
Supporting Black-owned businesses will help to create jobs and generate income, while supporting Black ideas and creativity. Support can be anything from purchasing a product from a Black-owned business, promoting a Black-owned business on social media, or even writing reviews to help spread the word!
Use a directory to find a Black-owned business to support!
- https://www.blackbusinessgreenbook.com/
- https://blackownedassociation.com/-
- https://usblackchambers.org/certification/
- Host a Celebration
Celebrate Juneteenth by bringing family, friends, and the community together. Host a barbecue in your backyard and serve red foods – such as strawberry pie, barbecue, red rice, watermelon, hot sauce, and red velvet cake – which symbolize resilience and joy. Listen to Black artists or find ways to incorporate Black-owned businesses into your celebration – the possibilities are endless!
- Donate & Volunteer
No donation is too small, and no amount of time spent volunteering is too insignificant. Juneteenth is a time to celebrate the resilience and strength of the Black community and support a non-profit organization with a mission that you are passionate about.