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“Freedom, freedom, freedom for everybody! I don’t want people to think that celebrating freedom via Juneteenth it’s just about a Black holiday or just a Texas holiday. It’s about knowing that we all have a stake in making this the best country in the world. It all hinges on each of us having the freedom to do whatever is necessary to get there.”

– Opal Lee, Grandmother of Juneteenth

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Juneteenth is fairly new to mainstream culture, but has been celebrated nationwide since that historic day in 1865. This holiday marks the end of *chattel* slavery in the U.S. (emphasis added with GREAT intentionality) and is a victory that quite literally cost immeasurable blood, sweat, and tears to achieve. 

Whenever it rolls around, the questions roll in right along with it:

• Who’s Juneteenth for?
• How should nonblack people commemorate it?
• What do we DO with this day?

First thing’s first: Juneteenth centers the Black experience, but the holiday is for ALL of us. Everybody. The day Black people gained liberation was a giant step towards freedom for all of us. It’s a day that can be marked with somber reflection on our history, gratitude for the sacrifices of our ancestors, and the celebration of the resilience, joy, and strength of Black people.

It’s also a day to remember the work that’s still left to be done to achieve liberation for all.

If you’re wondering, here are a few ways that you can celebrate Juneteenth personally or with your loved ones: 

1. Learn about the history of Juneteenth and the enduring legacy of slavery.

The story didn’t begin in 1865. From policies designed to keep Black people oppressed to the war waged to keep the institution of slavery intact, history paints a picture of just how far folks were willing to go to maintain white supremacy. Today, we still hear the echoes. 

2. Remember the Freedom Fighters. 

Revolutionary voices like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, and Frederick Douglass spoke truth to power and took action for liberation in the most dangerous circumstances. White abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison and Harriet Beecher Stowe refused to keep quiet in the face of the most unconscionable human rights violation of their time. Their stories give us hope, strength, and determination to keep going, and they remind us of our own personal responsibility to speak up & take action today. 

3. See the world through the lens of liberation.

From the prison system to the other side of the globe, oppression, slavery, and injustice continue to live on. Juneteenth reminds us that things don’t have to be this way. By staying aware and informed, you know where to lend your voice, time, and resources to work towards seeing liberation in our lifetimes. 

If you’re looking for practical ways to celebrate Juneteenth and also want to learn more about Black history in an accessible and consistent way, I’d love to invite you to Freedom School, my monthly digital subscription full of printable resources for learning and celebrating Black history.

With activities like trivia, building your own Juneteenth flag, coloring pages, printable art, and resource guides explaining how slavery shows up today, you’ll be able to learn hidden history, remember the freedom fighters that came before us, and find new ways to see the world through the lens of liberation.