Juneteenth: A time to celebrate freedom

The?Juneteenth holiday?honors the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, a group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out they were free from the institution of slavery. This news came?more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all enslaved people in Confederate States “shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.”?The name “Juneteenth” is a portmanteau of “June” and “nineteenth.”?

In 1866, the first Juneteenth was commemorated with food, singing of spirituals, and newly freed Black people taking pride in their progress. Over the years, communities would also commemorate the day by reading the Emancipation Proclamation, reinforcing hope for the future. Today, Juneteenth celebrations around the United States and beyond use this day to celebrate emancipation, with families and friends gathering to reflect on the past and look to the future.??

Juneteenth has gone by many names over time, including Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, and Black Independence Day. Yet, until 2021, when it became a national holiday , the existence and meaning of Juneteenth remained largely unknown to many Americans. It is not often taught in schools and has been misunderstood as a holiday only observed by African Americans.??

Juneteenth is now an opportunity to build community through events such as barbecues, street fairs, family reunions, parades, and church gatherings. Several communities even hold annual “Ms. Juneteenth” pageants.??

You can spend the Juneteenth holiday as a time to reflect and celebrate African American culture through music,?food,?and fellowship. Here are?several?ways everyone can commemorate Juneteenth:?

• Research the history of Juneteenth.?
• Join a community celebration or event.?
• Support a?Black-owned business.?
• Spread the word about the meaning and traditions of the holiday.?
• Volunteer with or donate to supportive organizations.?

Host a Juneteenth celebration.?

Co-op is committed to being part of the solution where equality is celebrated. This Juneteenth, join us in honoring and celebrating African American culture and history.?