Aww shucks….the best time of the year has arrived…LEO SEASON!! From July 22nd to August 22nd, it’s on and popping!!
Definitely one of my favorite times of the year for numerous reasons:
Juneteenth is about freedom! On June 19th in 1865, two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops announced to over 250,000 unaware Black folks in Texas…that they were free! Over half a century later, in 2021, this day was officially named a federal holiday.
Here we are in 2025, revisiting the turbulent times of our horrid past. History is being erased, just as swiftly as it is to take a step forward, and freedom is back in question. Every day, I wonder what craziness will take place in these United States. But as we approach another Juneteenth, I am reminded that even when the message is late, it will still be received!
And even with all that is happening day by day, I am still encouraged! Juneteenth is another day to celebrate, find the joy in life, and reflect on the future!
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As we prepare for another Juneteenth holiday, if you are looking for something to do to celebrate, check out what is happening in a city near you…
*Houston & Galveston, Texas: The Houston Museum of African American Culture will host its free Juneteenth celebration on June 19, with exhibitions, panels, face painting, immersive theater, and more. The Houston Freedmen’s Town Conservancy, an organization founded by formerly enslaved African Americans, is also. hosting a Juneteenth festival at their visitor center with events that include a fireside chat with the author and scholar Marc Lamont Hill. In Galveston, the Galveston Historical Foundation’s Juneteenth exhibit “And Still We Rise…” will be open daily from June 16 to 22 ($11.70 for adults). For more outdoor exploration, take a visit to the city’s landmarks on Galveston’s self-guided Freedom Walk map.
*Atlanta, Georgia: A few days after Juneteenth, on June 21, Camille Rose’s Beauté Noir Fest will feature a music performance by Atlanta native Mariah the Scientist, as well as panels, workshops, and food vendors.
*New York City, New York: In Manhattan on June 19, the Guggenheim, along with the DreamYard Projects’ Rad(ical) Poetry Consortium, is hosting a Late Shift event with poetry, dialogue, and performances. Tickets are free for members and $30 for adults. You can also check out the African Burial Ground National Monument, one of the most extensive known burial grounds in North America. On Juneteenth, the outdoor monument and the exhibits at the visitor center are free and open.
*Montgomery, Alabama: Check out some of these historical sites to reflect on Juneteenth. Visit the Legacy Museum, followed by a 15-minute river boat ride to the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park. On June 19, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, one of the nation’s first memorials dedicated to Black Americans who were victims of lynchings, will be open and free to the public.
*Tulsa, Oklahoma: Once known as Black Wall Street, the Greenwood District is creating opportunities to observe Juneteenth while learning about Black History. Museums like Greenwood Rising are educating visitors on the district’s history as a “Black business mecca” and the site of racial violence during the Tulsa Massacre. (Tickets start at $15 for adults and $8 for children 17 and under.)
*Oakland, California: Check out the Hella Juneteenth Festival on June 19, put on by the Bay Area arts collective, Hella Creative. Events will feature music, vendors, and an outdoor market at the Oakland Museum of California. You can also take part in viewing the West Oakland Mural Project, a public art installation and nonprofit that highlights the history of Black women in the Black Panther Party.
*Washington, D.C.: On June 19th, the Smithsonian will have a full day of free community events, including yoga, performances of spoken word and music, an interactive community mural and an urban gardening workshop. The National Museum of African American History and Culture also has free events for children with a reading of the book “Amazing Grace” and a music workshop. From June 19 to 22, the Emancipation Proclamation will be on display at the National Archives Museum during museum hours (Free Admission).
*Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Explore the Germantown neighborhood and visit the Johnson House, once a way station on the Underground Railroad. The city will also host a parade (through West Philly) and festival on June 22, with celebrations continuing at an outdoor festival at Malcolm X Park.
As an extra bonus, check out this past episode where I talk with my friend and academic colleague about why Juneteenth Matters!!
Sending a special message to all the father’s, grandfathers, uncles, and father-figures!! Enjoy your day!!
To be the father of a nation is a great honor, but to be the father of a family is a greater joy.” ~Nelson Mandela
Cheers to 2025!! We made it to another year, yes!! Wishing you peace, prosperity, happiness, love, and endless blessings!!
I can’t wait to see what is in store!!
What’s on your agenda for 2025?
Merry Christmas !! Happy Hanukkah !!
No matter what holiday you celebrate, wishing you a joyous holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous 2025!
Some Birthday Highlights as I celebrated turning 43!!
Cheers to another year!
My favorite month of the year has arrived!! It’s August ya’ll!! We are deep in 2024!! Feels good!!
It’s peak summer and the parties and celebrations are heating up even more!! As temperatures rise and the days stretch into warm evenings, summer is making its presence known as it comes to a close this month!
Not only is August my Birthday month (August 16) but it’s also …
Gonna be another great season!! Can’t wait to celebrate!!
One of the best times of the year has arrived (yes I’m a little bias :-))!
Summer is officially here!! Today marks the official first day of summer also known as the summer solstice! This solstice marks the official beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, occurring when Earth hits the point in its orbit where the North Pole is at its maximum tilt (about 23.5 degrees) toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day (meaning the period of sunlight hours) and shortest night of the calendar year.
Interestingly, after the solstice, the Sun appears to reverse its course and return towards the opposite direction. So enjoy the day and the beautiful sun!!
To get you further in the mood, check out this Summer Soul Mix to usher you into the new season!
What does it mean to be free?
Another year to celebrate and reflect on a moment in history! Juneteenth is about freedom! On this day in 1865 two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops announced to over 250,000 unaware Black folks in Texas..that they were free! And over a half-century later in 2021, this day was officially named a federal holiday.
I’m still amazed and proud that I am here to see the holiday come to fruition. To think that freedom was delayed (especially for two years, any amount for that matter) is truly an injustice. I cannot even begin to imagine…BUT the dream was delayed not diminished. While the holiday is not perfect (there is room for growth), the history of Juneteenth will always be around, which is important! Freedom did come!
As an African American Studies professor, I am always talking about the experiences of Black folks in and out of the diaspora, particularly in popular culture. And when thinking about those experiences I cannot help but consider the past. As a people, we have encountered daily trauma, joy, pain, motivation, and so much more. These expressions are projected in many ways, many speaking to the ultimate goal…simply being free!! This freedom is shown through our music, food, tv shows, films, language, and so much more. In our own unique way, we have been able to unapologetically give ourselves permission to be empowered and live free in spite of what might be happening in the world.
In the spirit of celebrating being free and living in one’s purpose, I have gathered a few options of some good books to read, a few movies to watch, and some podcasts to add to your morning commute that speak to being FREE! Check them out below:
Books
Movies/Film & TV Series
Podcasts
TV Specials
Now we cannot leave without offering some reflections on popular food and drinks that many folks consume during this celebration. During Juneteenth celebrations it is customary to partake in a feast, but particularly red foods take center stage. Red symbolizes the resilience from bondage. As noted by Chef Chris Scott who spearheaded the first James Beard Foundation’s Juneteenth celebration, “the red symbolizes the blood that was shed by Black Africans and Black Americans during slave capture, slave travel, and slave trade here in the state and in the Caribbean.” Some of the common foods found on a Juneteenth menu include:
Remember these are just the basics, it is up to you what you want to include, you can even make your own creations or remix a recipe. Just make sure it’s with family and friends as you celebrate and reflect on the notion of freedom!!
As an extra bonus check out this past episode where I talk with my friend and academic colleague about why Juneteenth Matters!!
Sending a special message to all the father’s, grandfathers, uncles, and father-figures!! Enjoy your day!!
Thankful and Grateful for you all!! You are very appreciated!
Black Future Feminist 