Celebrating Juneteenth by Ebony Brassfield

As an African American mom who strives to teach her children about their heritage and history, I did not hesitate when my daughter asked if we could host a Juneteenth celebration at our church. Any opportunity to celebrate African American culture is a delight for me!

Juneteenth is a holiday that celebrates the end of slavery for African American people. President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, ending slavery in America. But it wasn’t until June 19, 1865, two years later, that the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, found out they were free. From then on, the formerly enslaved families of that community organized festivities on June 19 to commemorate their freedom from slavery.

This holiday has been celebrated in various ways over the years through parades, religious services, family cookouts, musicals etc. Rather than the usual church service, this year, our children have decided to display the Juneteenth history through education, food and art. Our church members will have the opportunity to view various displays created by our children that visualize how and when Juneteenth came to be and how the celebration of it has evolved throughout our country over the last more than 150 years.

I am incredibly excited to witness the work our children have done but even more excited that they have an understanding that Juneteenth is not just a celebratory event but also a time to reflect on and acknowledge the freedom given to our enslaved ancestors. With the understanding that Juneteenth did not eliminate racism, inequality and injustice, the fight continues but we have made progress. And with their power and resolve, there is hope for continued progress in our future.

Celebrating Juneteenth is important to me because it is a reminder of how far we have come and how far we can go together if we choose to see, understand and accept one another, not for what our exterior presents but what our hearts exude as human beings.

“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do.” —Barack Obama