Juneteenth: Commemoration of Racial Trauma and African American Resilience

The Juneteenth flag created by Ben Haith, founder of
      the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF)
      in 1997. (Source: Chicago.gov)

Juneteenth refers to the June 19th date commemorating emancipation in the United States that is marked by annual celebration of African American freedom and achievement. On June 16th of this week Congress voted to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday to commemorate emancipation - the first new official federal holiday approved by Congress since the establishment of Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.

While the establishment of June 19th as a national holiday is a step towards recognizing the long history of inequality in the United States, much work remains in the fight to eliminate racism. As we recognize Juneteenth this year, this day is an opportunity for the more privileged members of our society to reflect on our roles in combating the lengthy presence of racism still prevalent in our country today, and to honor and support the resilience of African Americans.

A combination of the words “June” and “nineteen,” Juneteenth refers to June 19th, 1865 – the date in which U.S. Major General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 informing African Americans in Galveston, Texas, of the end of the Civil War and their emancipation. Records of official Juneteenth celebrations (originally referred to as “Emancipation Day” celebrations) date back to 1866 with accounts of African Americans in Texas holding events such as picnics, parades, and barbecues in celebration of liberation.

General Order No. 3 issued by Maj. Gen. Gordon   
Granger on June 19, 1865 declaring the end of   
slavery in Texas. (Source: The U.S. National Archives
and Records Administration)

However, as discussed in a 2020 interview with historian and Harvard Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Jarvis R. Givens, it is important to note that Juneteenth is not the first event commemorating freedom for African Americans, but rather is one of many freedom celebrations observed by African Americans throughout history. For example, other Freedom Day celebrations acknowledged by African Americans include celebrations honoring of the establishment of Haiti as the first Black republic in the Americas on January 1, 1804; the end of the transatlantic slave trade on January 1, 1808; and the end of slavery in the British West Indies in 1834.

To truly begin to comprehend the significance of freedom celebrations such as Juneteenth, it is important to note that these commemorations are multifaceted; that is, they both celebrate the gains in liberation and acknowledge the continued racism and inequality experienced by African Americans. In other words, to date, each past Juneteenth has commemorated gains in liberation for African Americans within the context of ongoing suppression. For example, Juneteenth celebrations originally occurred to celebrate the June 19th, 1865, announcement of the emancipation of Texas African Americans, yet this announcement came more than two and a half years after the January 1, 1863, Emancipation Proclamation, therefore resulting in celebrations that occurred within the context of ongoing oppression.

Therefore, the celebration embedded within the Juneteenth holiday should not negate that this commemoration simultaneously is an acknowledgement of past and current injustices and racial trauma experienced by African Americans. For instance, despite the end of chattel slavery in the United States, African Americans continue to be subjected to modern day forms of slavery such as mass incarceration. Givens describes the multifaceted significance of these celebrations in his 2020 Harvard interview stating: “These Freedom Day celebrations are always commemorative of the suffering Black people experienced as it pertains to slavery….But they’re always aspirational, right? Because while they’re celebrating ‘Freedom,’ there is a deep awareness that freedom for Black people continues to be incomplete.”

This week’s congressional vote to make Juneteenth a federal holiday is a timely example of this incompleteness, as despite the successful passing of Juneteenth National Independence Day Act1, there is still a substantial amount of work that needs to be done to combat systemic racism in the United States.

“I would hope that we would not cash in substantive change for an opportunity to commemorate," said Sen. Raphael G. Warnock (D-Ga.) at the June 16th legislative session. "I think commemoration ought to drive change and not be a substitute for change.”

Therefore, recognition of the federal Juneteenth holiday this year and years to come is a day that commemorates both the past and current injustices and racial trauma experienced by African Americans, as well as a day to honor and empower the African American resilience.

The origination of Juneteenth celebrations emerged from this resiliency, as Black people were forced to find creative ways to commemorate this date given the fact that White people often barred Black people from celebrating in public spaces in the 19th century. In addition to the  successful perseverance of celebrating Juneteenth despite obstacles originating from White supremacy, African Americans also stared the tradition of using these celebrations as opportunities to empower each other. For instance, some of the first Juneteenth celebrations in the late 19th century were used as opportunities for political rallies and to educate African Americans about their voting rights. As Shane Bolles Walsh, a lecturer with the University of Maryland’s African American Studies, told NPR in a recent interview, Juneteenth “…really exemplifies the survival instinct, the ways that we as a community really make something out of nothing. … It’s about empowerment and hopefulness.”

  From left to right: Martha Yates Jones and Pinkie Yates
   (both in white dresses and hats) sitting in a buggy decorated
    with flowers for the annual Juneteenth Celebration parked
    in front of Antioch Baptist Church located in Houston's Fourth
    Ward. (Source: Houston Public Library Digital Archives)

So as we at PACEs Connection honor Juneteenth, we ask those who are less familiar with Juneteenth to acknowledge the racial trauma experienced by African Americans and simultaneously honor and empower their resilience. See below for examples of upcoming Juneteenth events around the nation that promote resiliency and empower African Americans, as well as a reading list to learn more about Juneteenth, racial trauma, and healing.

(For references please contact: Rafael Maravilla - rmaravilla@pacesconnection.)

Resources to Learn More about Juneteenth, Racial Trauma, & Healing:

• Articles:
• • The New York Times’ “So You Want to Learn about Juneteenth?”
  • Vox’ “Juneteenth, explained”
  • Teen Vogue’s “On Juneteenth, Black People are Using Protest to Shed Intergenerational Trauma”
  • NPR’s “Slavery didn’t end on Juneteenth: Here’s what you should know about this important day”
  • The University of Washington’s “Juneteenth: A celebration of freedom”
  • BlackPast.org’s “Juneteenth: The growth of an African American holiday (1865-)”
  • Harvard Graduate School of Education’s “The Meaning of Juneteenth”
  • The Root’s “What is Juneteenth”

• Reading Lists:
• • The National Museum of African American History & Culture’s "Juneteenth Reading List"
  • NBC4’s "Books to Read for Juneteenth, as Recommended by DC’s Black Educators"
  • Black & Bookish’s “10 Books to Celebrate Juneteenth No Matter Your Age”

• Audio/Podcasts:
• • Houston Matters’ “Annette Gordon-Reed On The History And Meaning of Juneteenth (June 17, 2021)

• Websites:
• • Juneteenth.com
  • Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience (National Museum of African American History & Culture)

Examples of Upcoming National Juneteenth Events that Promote Resiliency:

*In-person events marked with an asterisk include an option for remote virtual participation

• Virtual Events:
• • The National Museum of African American History & Culture’s “Juneteenth: A Celebration of Resilience”*: A series of virtual events to honor Juneteenth by reflecting on the past, looking to the future, and celebrate this African American cultural tradition of music, food, and freedom.
  • • “Connecting the Historic to the Now”*: a virtual discussion (June 19, 2021 5:00 – 6:00 pm ET)
    • “Black Smoke: African Americans And The United States of Barbecue”*: a virtual discussion (June 19, 2021 10:00 – 11:00 am ET)
    • ...and more*!
• Chicago, IL:
• • “The Black Girlhood Altar: Healing Sanctuary”: The Weinberg/Newton Gallery will host a special Juneteenth event in collaboration with A Long Walk Home artist collective. The event includes outdoor activities, music, food, and a temporary monument to missing and murdered Black girls to be erected in the gallery’s courtyard. The event is free and open to the public.
    
    
• “Juneteenth Celebration at Hamilton Park”: Local non-profit group My Block My Hood My City is hosting a free celebration in the Englewood neighborhood. The public is invited to the event, which includes a pop-up vaccination site, voter registration, free food, and a live DJ. (June 19, 2021 1:00 – 4:00 pm CT)
  
  
• "Juneteenth Illinois Virtual Panel Discussions"* on topics such as culture, justice, criminal justice reform, and the impact of trauma on children* (Week of June 19, 2021)
  
  
• …and more! See the “Celebrate Juneteenth in Chicago*” and “Choose Chicago*” webpages for more live and virtual events
  
  
• Seattle, Washington:
• • “It Takes a Village – Juneteenth Festival”: Juneteenth by It Takes a Village creates a unique, annual event space to celebrate the Black community and learn about the Black experience while sharing in the diversity of culture that makes up our neighborhoods, connecting people to services and resources they need to live their best lives while enjoying a day spent in and with community, sharing food, ideas, goods, and more. (June 19, 2021 11:00 am – 5:00 pm PT)
    
    
• The Washington State Historical Society “Honoring Juneteenth” Event: Washington State Historical Society encourages you to join us in honoring Juneteenth with these organizations that work to preserve and share the history of Black Americans and Black Washingtonians. (June 19, 2021 10:00 am – 5:00 pm PT)

• Atlanta, GA:
  • “Juneteenth Atlanta Parade & Music Festival”: Includes national artists, speakers, community venders, etc. (June 18 – 20, 2021