Top 10 Ways to Celebrate the Juneteenth Holiday Respectfully

On June 19 every year, people commemorate Juneteenth, which marks the day in 1865 when enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The Juneteenth celebration stands for freedom, strength, and the continued fight for equality. To honor this day in a respectful way, you need to be intentional, culturally aware, and willing to learn about how important it is. This article lists ten meaningful ways to remember Juneteenth, whether you’re new to the event or want to get more involved. These ideas are meant to encourage introspection, solidarity, and celebration while honoring the holiday’s origins. They range from learning to becoming involved in the community. We will look at each technique below and give you actions to take to make sure your celebration of Juneteenth is both meaningful and real.

1. Learn about the history of Juneteenth.

To celebrate Juneteenth in a respectable way, you need to know what happened in the past. Start by looking into what happened on June 19, 1865, when Union General Gordon Granger announced General Order No. 3, which emancipated enslaved people in Texas. Use primary sources, like historical records or stories from people who used to be enslaved, that you may find in libraries or online archives like the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Books like Annette Gordon-Reed’s On Juneteenth give us a lot of information about what it means. Think about going to virtual lectures or watching movies put on by cultural institutions. This self-education helps you understand the holiday’s meaning better and lets you have educated conversations about it. Tell other people what you learn to raise awareness and make sure that Juneteenth is remembered as an important part of American history.

2. Help businesses owned by Black people

Supporting Black-owned companies is a powerful way to celebrate Juneteenth because it gives communities more economic power. Look up Black-owned restaurants, bookstores, or stores in your area and make a point of going to them on June 19. You can use websites like Official Black Wall Street or We Buy Black to locate businesses to support. You may help these businesses develop by buying gifts, food, or services from them, for example. This action fits with the spirit of freedom and self-determination that is at the heart of Juneteenth. Also, use hashtags like #SupportBlackBusinesses to share your experiences on social media to help these businesses. You may remember Juneteenth by changing how you spend your money, which will help the economy and make your town stronger.

3. Go to Juneteenth events in your community

Joining in on local Juneteenth holiday events is a fun way to celebrate and meet new people. There are festivals, parades, and cultural performances in many cities that show off African American music, dancing, and art. Look at community calendars or websites like Eventbrite to see what’s going on around you. There are sometimes educational panels, storytelling, or reenactments at these events that show the history of the festival. Be respectful by paying attention, supporting vendors, and valuing the cultural expressions that are shared. If there aren’t any activities nearby, think about attending virtual celebrations put on by groups like the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund. Going to these events brings people together and spreads the Juneteenth holiday’s message of freedom and justice, making memories and friendships that will stay.

4. Hold a book club or reflective discussion

Setting up a book club or discussion group about the Juneteenth holiday might help people learn and have meaningful conversations. Choose books like Isabel Wilkerson’s The Warmth of Other Suns or Ralph Ellison’s Juneteenth to read about freedom and strength. Ask friends, relatives, or coworkers to join so that you may get a variety of points of view. To get people talking, come up with questions like “How does Juneteenth reflect ongoing struggles for equality?” Give people a safe place to talk about their thoughts and feelings and share what they know about history. By hosting this event, you honor Juneteenth by promoting understanding and encouraging everyone to grow together. If you can’t meet in person, utilize Zoom or other online platforms to communicate with everyone, making sure everyone can get to the meeting.

5. Help out with causes that fight for social justice

One great way to honor Juneteenth is to volunteer for groups that work for racial fairness. Find groups in your area or around the country who support Juneteenth’s ideas of freedom and equality. Examples include the NAACP and Black Lives Matter. Give your time to help with voter registration drives, neighborhood cleanups, or educational activities. For instance, mentoring young people through groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters can have a direct effect. Use sites like VolunteerMatch to look for research opportunities that interest you. You are helping to keep the memory of the Juneteenth holiday alive by taking the time to do these things. You are also actively supporting the battle for justice and fairness in real ways.

Table: Important Juneteenth Events and What They Mean

6. Make or Share Juneteenth Art

Art is a great way to celebrate Juneteenth and show its ideas of freedom and strength. Make your own art, such paintings, poems, or music, that shows how important the holiday is. If you’re not an artist, post art by Black people on social media or go to local galleries that feature African American art. Artists on sites like Instagram use colorful images or spoken word to portray the spirit of Juneteenth. For instance, create a poem about freedom and read it at a community event. You respect the cultural richness of Juneteenth by making or interacting with art that reflects its historical and emotional complexity.

7. Make traditional Juneteenth foods

Food is a big part of Juneteenth celebrations, and many of the dishes are based on African American cooking styles. Make or eat foods that stand for happiness and strength, such red velvet cake, barbecued ribs, or collard greens. The color red, which may be observed in dishes like hibiscus tea, stands for the slaughter and strength of enslaved people. Have a potluck with friends or family, and ask everyone to bring a dish and talk about what it means to them in their culture. For real recipes, use ones from cookbooks like Toni Tipton-Martin’s Jubilee. Making and sharing these dishes brings people together and honors the holiday’s history, making it a sensual celebration of freedom.

8. Push for Juneteenth education

Pushing for the Juneteenth celebration to be included in school curriculums or corporate diversity programs can help keep its memory alive. Call your local school boards or HR departments to suggest that they offer workshops or other resources about Juneteenth. Send out petitions or campaigns, like those from the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, to get more people to recognize it. Write to leaders in your community to stress how important it is to teach this history. By supporting education, you help make sure that future generations know what Juneteenth means and create a culture of respect and awareness for this important day in history.

9. Give money to groups run by Black people

Giving money to Black-led groups is a great way to keep the Juneteenth holiday‘s history of empowerment alive. Look into well-known organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative or Black Youth Project 100 that work on problems like reforming the criminal justice system or helping young people become leaders. Even tiny gifts can make a difference. Think about setting up regular donations to make a lasting difference. Use sites like GuideStar to check out groups to make sure they are open and honest. By giving money to groups that work to alter the system and help communities that are still facing unfairness, you are honoring the Juneteenth holiday’s essential ideals.

10. Think about what you want to do and write it down.

Taking time to think about yourself is a simple but meaningful way to celebrate Juneteenth. On June 19, take some time to write about what freedom and justice mean to you. Think about how you can help make things more fair for people of all races in your everyday life, whether it’s by being an ally, teaching others, or speaking up. Think about how strong the people who struggled for freedom were and how their memory motivates people to act now. Tell a trusted friend or community group about your plans so they can hold you accountable. This reflective exercise gives your celebration a purpose, making sure that Juneteenth stays a time for personal and social progress.

In conclusion

To honor Juneteenth in a respectful way, you should learn about it, do something about it, and appreciate the culture. You may recognize the historical and continuing importance of June 19 by doing these 10 things, which include supporting Black companies and thinking about your own commitments. Every action, from going to a festival to fighting for education, helps you comprehend how complicated freedom is. As you celebrate Juneteenth, remember to listen, learn, and act with purpose. By doing this, you not only honor an important period in history, but you also help make a future where fairness and justice reign. This Juneteenth should be a meaningful step toward coming together and moving forward.