On Monday, June 19, people all over the country will commemorate a very important day of celebration for African Americans and the Black community–Juneteenth. If you are unaware of what Juneteenth is, it is a federal holiday celebrated every June 19 in the United States to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Juneteenth is so much more than another federal holiday. Juneteenth marks the day when news of the abolition of slavery reached Texas, carried by Union Gen. Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865 — two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1863.
While this holiday is a day of celebration, justice, and progress for People of Color (POC), there are still ways to honor Juneteenth as a non-POC. Speaking for myself, the first thing I want to note before diving into this piece is recognizing my privilege: I am a young white female attending a PWI university. I have never had to worry about my family being viewed or treated differently because of the color of our skin. These are just some of the aspects of my privilege I chose to highlight. I think before reading about ways to honor Juneteenth as a non-POC, recognizing your privileges first is key.
- Educate, Educate, Educate.
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Everybody says it, but how often is it really done? The first step in honoring Juneteenth as a non-POC is educating yourself. Now, I know this can be overwhelming: There is a lot of information out there, and it can be tricky to determine which sources are the best to get your information from. I found many sources that were incredibly interesting and helpful in furthering my understanding of Juneteenth.
- National Museum of African American History & Culture. There is so much information here, and it is definitely one of the top resources I would recommend. Specifically, the Juneteenth Today section and the Juneteenth Digital Toolkit. The toolkit is a great resource because it has shareable graphics that are great to post on social media or send to your friends and family.
- A Black Women’s History of the United States. I am actually quite familiar with this text! It was one of my history textbooks for an African American Women’s history class I took. The book is extremely detailed and provides so much valuable information. I would definitely recommend checking this one out.
- On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed. This award-winning book seems to be one of the best resources about Juneteenth out there.
- Listen.
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This is a time of commemoration and celebration, but it can also be an extremely difficult time for POC. Listening to their testimonies, family history, what Juneteenth means to them, and more is one of the best ways a non-POC can honor Juneteenth. If you want to listen to some outside sources about this, check out Jasmine Bradshaw’s podcast “First Name Basis,” and listen to her “What is Juneteenth?” episode. It is informative, easy to follow, and helpful.
- Support Black Businesses, Charities, Churches, and other institutions.
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Supporting Black-owned businesses, charities, churches, fundraisers, events, and more is a great way to honor Juneteenth as a non-POC. I would start by looking for local Black-owned businesses, charities, and more, near you. Supporting those in your community and working to foster a connection with them can make a massive difference.
- Volunteer.
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Volunteering is something that is so important to the empowerment of Black communities, especially during Juneteenth. Again, start local! Look for some places around you that need volunteers. If you are having trouble finding volunteer options, here are a few resources to help you out:
- Donate.
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If you are able to, donating is important and extremely appreciated. Donating to your community can make a huge difference. Here are some other resources to check out: