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Jun 20, 2022 · In years past, Juneteenth was primarily celebrated by southern Black folks, especially Black Texans, who commemorated the day with intimate gatherings, Black anthems and comfort food.
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- Learn
- Take Action
- Celebrate
- At Work
- At Home
- As An Ally, to Show Support
- At School
- On Social Media
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Learn the history of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth has been celebrated for hundreds of years — but many don't know the full context and history of the annual holiday. Now is the perfect time to learn. We recommend turning to The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture website, which offers blog posts on the legacy and celebration of Juneteenthand so many more resources. Learning from today’s scholars and academics, like LaTaSha Levy, an assistant professor of American ethnic studies at the University o...
Watch a documentary about slavery.
It’s important to note that though the U.S. ended chattel slavery, slavery is still legal (and continues to this day) via a loophole in the 13th Amendment. A great resource to learn more about this loophole in the 13th Amendment is the documentary 13th on Netflix. Experts and activists see this loophole as directly linked to the current U.S. prison system, which incarcerates Black people at disproportionately higher rates and profits off their labor. The documentary provides the origins of th...
Visit a museum.
Museums are the time capsules of society, allowing us to see, hear, and (sometimes) touch history. We learn about generations past in a way that other forms of learning might not communicate as well. American museums are uniquely using Juneteenth as an opportunity to celebrate, honor, remember, and educate — and we’ve got a few (of the many) museums and cultural centers that are celebrating Juneteenth this year: 1. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, Washi...
Support Black-owned businesses.
A simple way to celebrate Juneteenth is by supporting Black creators and entrepreneurs. The Center for American Progressreported that "while Black Americans make up 13% of the U.S. population, they own less than 2% of small businesses with employees. By contrast, white Americans make up 60% of the U.S. population but own 82% of small employer firms. If financial capital were more evenly distributed and Black Americans enjoyed the same business ownership and success rates as their white counte...
Advocate for racial justice.
Whether it’s advocating for voting rights, anti-discrimination policies, improved and inclusive school curriculum, reparations, or another meaningful policy, it’s important to continually advocate for racial justice on all levels. Call your elected officials, support Black candidates running for office, and dedicate some time to applying your anti-racism education to real-world change.
Eat at Black-owned restaurants.
Early Juneteenth celebrations revolved around food and music. A great way to continue this tradition and celebration is by choosing to eat at Black-owned restaurants. EatOkra is an appand website that connects “foodies to Black restaurants and culinary events while amplifying the dining experience for and by Black communities.” Make sure to tip well.
Attend a Juneteenth walk or parade.
Many cities across the country host Juneteenth eventsor parades, so keep your eyes on your community’s calendars to find one near you. You can also register to attend Opal’s Walk(virtually or in-person), a 2.5-mile walk that honors the 2.5 years it took for the official word of the Emancipation Proclamation to reach the enslaved people of Fort Lee, Texas. In 2016, at age 89, activist Opal Leehosted the first walk in the hopes of educating the country about Juneteenth. Now you can walk alongsi...
Host a backyard party with traditional foods.
Gathering around food is a tradition nearly every culture has, and eating good food for Juneteenth is no exception! This is a great time for a community barbecue or cookout, often with traditionally significant foodslike pork, jerk chicken, and other favorite barbecue sides. Most meals include a drink or dish that is red in color, representing the resilience of enslaved people. You might see items like hibiscus tea, strawberry punch or soda, strawberry pie, or red velvet cake on the proverbia...
Enjoy Black TV and movies.
While you should definitely be diversifying your viewing and listening queues all year long, Juneteenth is a great opportunity to enjoy TV and movies by Black creators. Here is a quick (but not comprehensive) list of recommendations for your viewing pleasure. TV Shows: 1. Abbott Elementary (ABC, Hulu, HBO) 2. Queens (Hulu) 3. Lovecraft Country (HBO) 4. Woke (Hulu) 5. I May Destroy You (HBO) 6. Colin in Black & White (Netflix) 7. Black-ish (Hulu) 8. Grown-ish (Hulu) 9. Atlanta (Hulu) 10. Insec...
Give your employees time off — or additional pay — for Juneteenth.
Since Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, many employers take this opportunity to give their employees time off and use this time to educate and raise awareness about the holiday. According to a survey conducted by Mercerin 2021, 9% of surveyed companies planned to observe Juneteenth as a holiday in 2021. Some companies, like Starbucks and Best Buy, have been known to keep their retail locations open on Juneteenth but provide employees with additional pay, according to NPR. However, it’s imp...
Create an informative email auto-response
If your company is closed for Juneteenth, create an email auto-response that shares why the company is closed and why Juneteenth is important. Continuing to share information with people about the historic significance of this holiday is a great way to further stand in solidarity with your Black team members.
Highlight Juneteenth in your newsletter.
Although it would be great if everyone could provide their employees with time off, many small businesses or essential workers are not afforded the option to take a day off or offer the various benefits that larger corporations might. However, and similar to drafting an informative email response, utilizing your current email marketing platforms is a great way to share more about Juneteenth. This could mean including a sentence or two — or an entire section — in your newsletteracknowledging J...
Talk to your kids about race.
People often tie a lot of their beliefs and values to what they learned at home growing up. We can help celebrate Juneteenth by having conversations around the dinner table about what this day means to the Black community and how we can show support. For children of all racial identities, Juneteenth can be a time for learning about slavery in the U.S., the resilience of Black Americans, and the bravery it took to end slavery. It can also be a time to just learn about the history of racism in...
Practice saving funds for regular donations.
If your kiddos have an allowance or lemonade stand, chances are, you’re hoping to teach them the value of money. Extend that conversation to include discussions of community care, mutual aid, fundraising, and wealth redistribution. These topics can feel like big or confusing ideas, but encourage your children to save some of their money in a special jar that they can use to support an organization or community member of their choice down the road. You don’t need to give them a full explainer...
Don’t make it about you.
Just like Prideisn’t about having a gay best friend, Juneteenth is not about your anti-racism journey as an ally. While we use the term “celebrating,” this day holds grave historical and cultural significance that can be deeply painful for many Black community members. Don’t wish folks a “Happy Juneteenth!”like it’s Halloween or a birthday party. Don’t post on social media about all the amazing things you’ve done as an ally. Don’t co-opt Black spaces, unless you are explicitly invited to even...
Do something to make a Black person’s life easier — with their consent
TikTok creator Maekae Woods shared a great resource abouthow white people can honor Juneteenth, and in her comments, someone said that they planned to take on an extra shift so their Black coworker could have the day off. What a great idea! Consider what you have to offer (time, money, a meal, a letter of recommendation, an hour of childcare), and use your skills to support a Black friend or community member. However, make sure you aren’t doing the white saviorthing, and confirm that your sup...
We’ll say it again: Shop Black — and don’t buy Walmart’s ice cream.
If there’s one thing we definitely don’t need on Juneteenth, it’s Juneteenth-themed merch from big corporations. Last year, Walmart came under fire (rightfully so) for selling Juneteenth-themed ice creamand shirts. If you’re reading this article, we don’t need to explain to you how outrageous that is. So instead of engaging with that tomfoolery, we’ll remind you again: Shop Black! There are so many great Black-owned businesses or service providers you can support, both on Juneteenth and movin...
Access free educational resources on American slavery.
Children spend their formative years (and a huge chunk of their daily lives) in the classroom retaining information, learning how to think independently, and asking questions. Though slavery in America is a hard subject to teach in the classroom, there are organizations focused on making it easier for educators to access age-appropriate tools and resources to teach American history. Learning for Justice helps educators and students reduce prejudice by providing free educational resources— art...
Add books on Juneteenth in your classroom library.
Providing students with free, easy access to racially diverse literature through school or in-class librariesis a great way of providing independent learning opportunities in the classroom. However, we know that many school districts across the U.S. suffer from funding disparities— especially within low-income areas. As a result, many children (and consequently their teachers) are left with a limited selection of books, school supplies, and educational materials. The First Book Marketplacepro...
Share photos of past or present Juneteenth celebrations.
Social media can be a powerful tool to share Black stories, celebrations, and history with the world. Share your Juneteenth celebration with your community or access the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture Social Media Toolkitto help share more insight on what this day means to you and your family.
Amplify Black voices.
We’ll say it again: if you are not a part of the Black community, don’t make it about you. Don’t post on social media about all the amazing things you’ve done as an ally. Instead, virtually listen, learn, and support Black voices by amplifying their content.
Learn the history, culture, and significance of Juneteenth, the annual holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S. Find out how to honor, educate, and support Black communities through books, documentaries, museums, and more.
Jun 19, 2023 · Learn about the history, significance and traditions of Juneteenth, the federal holiday that marks the end of slavery in the U.S. Find out how to celebrate it with cookouts, festivals, education or rest, and why it matters for all Americans.
Jun 17, 2021 · Whether you’ve known about Juneteenth your entire life or you’re just learning about this important day, it’s one everyone can commemorate. Here are eight ways to do so.
Jun 17, 2023 · People who never gave the holiday on June 19 more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a “right” way to celebrate Juneteenth? For beginners and those brushing up history, here are some answers:
- ttang@ap.org
- National Race And Ethnicity Writer
Jun 19, 2024 · Here are 30 different ways to celebrate Juneteenth 2024 at work, at home and in your community.
Jun 18, 2024 · It just depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and barbecues. In the beginnings of the holiday celebrated as Black Americans’ true Independence Day, the...
