Juneteenth Observed Today

“With care and concerted effort, the Juneteenth holiday might rival Thanksgiving as a new communal ritual, highlighting the value of shared freedoms as our workweek tempo slows and personal rhythms align, even as we notice and cherish the treasure of each distinct celebration. In these right-size gatherings in parks, on blocks, at town greens and city squares, we can gain so much more than kitschy displays and logo T-shirts — loneliness dispelled, neighborhoods sustained and a torn national fabric slowly darned from the inside out.” (Juneteenth is Different Out West by Tiya Miles, New York Times, June 16, 2023)

 

Red foods and beverages are traditionally served at Juneteenth celebrations.

This is the third year when the USA has officially observed our newest National Holiday: Juneteenth, the 19th of June.. Like most national holidays, it is a day off for Federal workers. While the holiday has a long history of neighborhood, family, and community celebrations, and it’s been a state holiday in Texas since 1980, it seems new to many people because of its new national status.

A current LA Times article, “Where to dig into the vibrant history of red foods for the Juneteenth holiday" explains: 

“The holiday marks June 19, 1865, when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform all enslaved people within the state — estimated to be 25,000 — that they had been freed by President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, nearly 2½ years after the order was given.

“The first Juneteenth celebrations were recorded in the state of Texas in 1866, describing family and church gatherings with tablescapes of vibrant summer fruits, fried fish and chicken, and poundcake. In the years to follow, festivities spread throughout Southern states and eventually made their way to the Midwest and both coasts.”

Why are red foods particularly traditional for this holiday? The color red in food and drinks (as illustrated in the photo above) was highly significant to the African ancestors of the American Black community (source),

“In Yoruba and Kenya, red can be representative of sacrifice, transition, and power, so it was only fitting that the color would be prominent in celebrating their freedom from enslavement years later.”

This article also cites author Adrian Miller, who says the significance of red beverages 

“…has to do with the prevalence of red corn, kola nut, and hibiscus, the latter of which were West African crops brought to America from the Caribbean during the Atlantic slave trade. Red corn was used to make homemade whiskey, hibiscus was used to make a tea called bissap, and kola nuts were crushed into a powder to create a natural energy drink and cold remedy that could also make bitter water palatable.”

 

For some original drink recipes see The Spruce Eats:
"13 Juneteenth Drinks by Black Food Bloggers: A Celebration of Heritage and Unity”

 

Holiday Celebrations

Poster from the Detroit Public Library

The Pew Research Center notes the official progress of this holiday:

“This year, at least 28 states and the District of Columbia will legally recognize Juneteenth as a public holiday – meaning state government offices are closed and state workers have a paid day off – according to a Pew Research Center analysis of state human resources websites, state legislation and news articles. Connecticut, Minnesota, Nevada and Tennessee have made Juneteenth a public holiday at the state level starting this year.”

Thinking Hard about Racial Justice

Juneteenth can be a celebration of freedom and justice for everyone. However, I would like to conclude this post with one sad thought: racial discrimination against Blacks in American life has been and still is a major problem. Recent researchers at the University of Chicago reviewed a number of well-constructed studies. Here is the bottom line:

“They found that discrimination impacts consequential endeavors and mundane tasks alike, from buying a home and applying to jobs to looking for a new church and using rideshare apps. Simply put, discrimination is everywhere.” (source)

Blog post © 2023 mae sander