For more than a century and a half, the holiday of Juneteenth (June 19th) has been a sacred day for many in the black community.
This day marks the day in 1865 when slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they were freed after the end of the Civil War and two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Since being designated a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth has become widely recognized beyond Black Americans, with many people taking the day off work or school and numerous street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events taking place.
If you haven’t really thought much about the Juneteenth holiday before, you might be asking yourself: is there a “right” way to celebrate Juneteenth?
For the uninitiated and those still studying history, here are some answers.
Is Juneteenth a solemn day of remembrance or more of a party?
That depends on what you want. Juneteenth celebrations have their roots in barbecues and BBQs. Celebrated as black Americans’ true Independence Day, the holiday’s early days saw large, raucous outdoor reunions of formerly enslaved families, many of whom had been separated. These gatherings were particularly revolutionary in the absence of the restrictive “Black Codes” in place in Confederate states that limited freed slaves’ ability to vote, buy property, gather for worship, and other aspects of daily life.
Last week, the White House kicked things off early with a concert on the South Lawn celebrating Juneteenth and Black Music Month. Singers Gladys Knight and Patti LaBelle were among a lineup of big-name artists in genres including gospel, rap and jazz. The atmosphere was festive, with the first black vice president, Kamala Harris, dancing onstage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin.
“Today, as we celebrate Juneteenth, we remember together the promise of America,” Harris said in her opening remarks. “A promise of freedom, liberty and opportunity for all, not just a few. In many ways, the story of Juneteenth and our nation is the story of our ongoing fight to make that promise a reality.”
Some people may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance, which means participating in community service activities, serving on educational panels, or taking a vacation.
The key is to make people feel like they have a choice in how they celebrate the occasion, said Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm that helps leaders lead conversations that bridge racial and cultural divides.
“Just like with Martin Luther King Day, we call it a day of service and a lot of people take action, but a lot of people just say, ‘I appreciate Dr. King, I’m going to watch TV and take a break,'” Anderson said. “I don’t want to make people feel guilty about it. What I want to do is give the public a choice.”
What if you’ve never celebrated Juneteenth?
Anderson didn’t do anything for Juneteenth when she was younger, and didn’t find out about it until she was in her 30s.
“I think a lot of people, even people of my skin color as an African-American man, don’t know about this. Even if they heard about it and knew about it, it wasn’t something they celebrated,” Anderson said. “It was just a part of history. It wasn’t something we celebrated.”
For many African Americans, Juneteenth was less celebrated with any great vigor than those who grew up farther from Texas. In the South, the date can vary depending on when news of emancipation reached each state.
What Juneteenth-related public events are being held around the country?
Search online to find gatherings of all sizes and flavors in big cities and suburbs. Some are carnival-style festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts, and parades. At these festivals, you’ll likely connect with professionals in health, finance, and community resources. There are also concerts and fashion shows that highlight Black excellence and creativity. For those who want to look back, many organizations and universities host panels to remind people of the history of Juneteenth.
For the first time since Juneteenth was federally recognized, the National Park Service will offer free admission to all sites on the holiday, and several parks will be hosting Juneteenth commemorations this week.
Are there any special foods served on Juneteenth?
Besides barbecue, the color red has been used consistently in Juneteenth foods for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. Juneteenth menus may include barbecued ribs and other red meats, watermelon, and red velvet cake. Drinks such as fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may also be on the table.
If you’re not Black, does it matter how you celebrate Juneteenth?
Dr. Khalida Brown, a professor of sociology at Emory University who studies race relations, said people who don’t have a personal connection or aren’t black shouldn’t feel awkward if they want to celebrate Juneteenth, and should be embraced.
“I want to rethink this and challenge those of us who are non-black who want to lean into and celebrate Juneteenth,” Brown said. “This is absolutely your history, it’s part of your experience. … Isn’t this the whole story of our history? The good, the bad and the ugly, it’s the story of liberation and freedom of our black brothers and sisters under the Constitution.”
If you want to recognize Juneteenth authentically, educate yourself. Attending street festivals and supporting Black-owned businesses is a good start, but “having good hearts” is also a good thing, Anderson says.
“This is more than just a celebration,” Anderson said. “I think black people need to do this too, because it’s new for us in America. But for non-black people to read about this subject and about black history beyond Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks, it will send a message that we’re really committed to growing in this space.”
If you’re struggling with how to celebrate the day “ethically,” Brown also suggests expanding your knowledge about why the holiday is so important by reading, attending events, or even visiting an African-American history museum if there’s one near you.
“Have the fully human experience of seeing yourself through someone else’s eyes, even if it’s not your own experience,” she said. “It’s a wonderful and fundamentally human act that should be encouraged and celebrated.”
What are some other names for Juneteenth?
Over the decades, Juneteenth has been called Freedom Day, Liberation Day, Black Independence Day and Second Independence Day.
“The Fourth of July in 1776 celebrates freedom and emancipation and all that, but it doesn’t include my descendants,” Brown said. “Black people in America were still slaves, so there’s always been a bittersweet tinge to this holiday.”
Is there an appropriate greeting for Juneteenth?
It’s common to wish people “Happy Juneteenth” or “Happy Teens,” said comedian Alan Freeman, who is organizing the Juneteenth Comedy Festival in Galveston, Texas, for the second year in a row.
“You know how at Christmas, even strangers say ‘Merry Christmas’ to each other?” Freeman says. “And everyone says ‘Merry Christmas’ back to them. It’s the same thing.”
