Honouring Juneteenth: A guide for the less informed

It’s that time of year when you’re wondering how – or indeed if – you should celebrate Juneteenth. If you’re a Black person reading this, you already know what to do. You may be with family and/ or friends or go to a special church or community celebration. Some of us do nothing and rest, and that’s OK too. This year, Father’s Day and Juneteenth fall on the same day, so it’ll be an extra special day for Black father figures. But for white and non-Black people, it can be more confusing

Do I just celebrate my father figure? Should I celebrate Juneteenth to show that I’m an ally? Luckily, I have an answer for you.

Firstly, let’s talk about the history of Juneteenth. It’s important to understand why this is now a national holiday. The Emancipation Proclamation, signed by President Lincoln on 1 January, 1863, kind of ended slavery (take some time to learn about the Thirteenth Amendment that ‘ended’ slavery except for punishment of a crime). This historic day took years to reach Texas, the most remote state of the Confederacy. Many enslavers moved their ‘property’ from the deep South to Texas due to the pending decision. Black enslaved people did not learn about the Emancipation Proclamation until news reached Galveston, Texas on 19 June, 1865. Get it, June nineteenth aka Juneteenth.

It took until 1866 for all 250,000 enslaved Black people in Texas to be free. That same year, church celebrations started and spread throughout the South. Those celebrations grew into annual food festivals and other celebratory gatherings. Over time, some cities and states honoured Juneteenth as a holiday. Last year, President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Secondly, 4 July celebrates the freedom of only white men. Fourth of July, 1776, Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) were either enslaved, indentured, or worse. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the Fourth – just make sure you have conversations about whose freedom you’re celebrating. Juneteenth is a celebration of what newly freed Black people thought was freedom, but many free Black people became sharecroppers of the very places they were enslaved. Some lost their money when the Freedman’s Bank, a bank for enslaved people, collapsed due to misappropriation of assets. And all Black people experienced Jim Crow and the Civil Rights Movement.

Thirdly, if you are a white person who gets the day off, take the time to do the work. Volunteer on Juneteenth like you may do on Martin Luther King Jr Day. Donate to an organisation that supports and uplifts Black communities. Buy something or support a Black-owned business (like my shop). Watch a documentary or Black film to learn more about our culture. Listen to a new podcast, as there are so many gems out there.

Juneteenth is a day of reflection for everyone. For Black people, celebrate your accomplishments, your perseverance, community, and pride. Non-white people, reflect on how you support and advocate for the Black people in your life and at work. Use any additional privilege you have to champion the value of our lives.

Juneteenth for white people is different. Look back to the last Juneteenth and ask yourself these questions:
• Are you the same person?
• Have you grown and have a better understanding of Black people and their culture?
• Have you used your privilege to advocate for a Black person at work?
• Do you have more than one Black friend?
• What are you watching and listening to that features Black people?
• Have you stereotyped or made an assumption of a Black person, community or group?
• Did you support or buy more from Black businesses, or do you only do that during Juneteenth, Black History Month or the Martin Luther King Jr holiday?
• Did you apologise for saying or doing something hurtful or harmful to a Black person or community even if you didn’t fully understand why?

When asking yourself these questions, did you feel uncomfortable? I want to encourage you to lean into that discomfort, so that you are comfortable being uncomfortable, because you know that’s where there’s opportunity for growth, advocacy, and change. I want to encourage you to move past performative allyship to being an accomplice who changes their attitude and behaviour for daily anti-racist action. One action can be talking to your father figure about Juneteenth this Father’s Day and/ or buying a gift for him from a Black-owned business.

So, whether you're celebrating Day of Jubilee, Juneteenth National Independence Day, Freedom Day, Black Independence Day, Emancipation Day or Juneteenth, remember to acknowledge that your freedom may not be the same as others. Your privilege may benefit you more than others. And you have the power to use your privilege for good. Oh, and please don’t do to Juneteenth what white people have done to Cinco de Mayo (tacos to support a Mexican restaurant – yes; wearing a sombrero – no). I’m looking at you Walmart.

Dr Akilah Cadet is the founder and CEO of Change Cadet, a consulting agency that provides companies with services that support anti-racism, diversity, and inclusion.