Tag: Red food and drink

Posted in A Professor's Thoughts..., Black Joy, Celebration, Conversations with Beloved & Kindred, Holiday Celebration!!, Resources

Juneteenth 2024: A Time for Celebration and Reflection!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

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

  • On Juneteenth ~Annette Gordon-Reed
  • We Are Each Other’s Harvest Celebrating African American Farmers, Land, and Legacy ~Natalie Baszile
  • Four Hundred Souls ~Edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha Blain
  • Magic Enuff ~Tara M. Stringfellow
  • Shoutin’ in the Fire ~Danté Stewart
  • Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People ~Tiya Miles
  • I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness ~Austin Channing Brown

Movies/Film & TV Series

  • Miss Juneteenth (2020)
  • Beyond the Canvas-Art: Black Women Lead (2023)
  • Pose (2018-2021)
  • Mending Walls: The Documentary (2022)
  • The Learning Tree (1969)
  • High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America (Netflix)

Podcasts

TV Specials

  • Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom and Legacy (CNN) [Airing June 19 at 10pm ET/PT]: The third annual special will feature musical performances and conversations with John Legend, Patti LaBelle, and Smokey Robinson discussing freedom, progress and recognizing the people that paved the way. 
  • Additional documentaries, films, and television shows (provided by VCU News)

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:

  • Strawberries (especially strawberry soda pop)
  • Sorrel
  • Watermelon
  • BBQ
  • Red beans and rice
  • Red Velvet Cake
  • Deviled eggs

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!!

Posted in #30DaysofBlackJoy Series, A Professor's Thoughts..., Celebration, Resources

#30DaysofBlackJoy…Day 19-Happy Juneteenth!!

Posted on by drblackfuturefeminist

“Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.” ~Toni Morrison

**This article was originally published in 2021. It was updated in 2023.**

Today marks the 158th year since the message of freedom was delivered to those enslaved in Texas, also known as Juneteenth (portmanteau of June and nineteenth)!! A celebration of emancipation, liberation, and Black Joy!!

And what is Juneteenth? Juneteenth refers to June 19th, 1865 the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to inform the 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free. Keep in mind the Emancipation Proclamation (which ended slavery) had went into effect January 1st, 1863 (also the start of watch night services), so Texas would not get this memo for almost two and half years later. And people wonder why Black people cannot wait for change! Why we are persistent about consistent upward and forward movement! Why are Black people not quick to trust, because of past failures and screw ups like what happened in Galveston, TX. Nevertheless, the chains are breaking and the truth is being revealed.

In a way there has been this sudden awakening regarding the Juneteenth holiday. Much like how the message of freedom was delayed in its delivery to those enslaved in Texas, one could say there is a delayed recognition (on a larger scale) of the Juneteenth holiday. With all of the the national protests, police violence, and continuous murder of Black and Brown bodies of last year the U.S. would be reminded of past moments of resistance and endurance. This acknowledgement rebirth is what I like to think of as a memory survival. As Isabel Wilkerson writes in her amazing book, The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, “The people from Texas took Juneteenth Day to Los Angeles, Oakland, Seattle, and other places they went.” And thank goodness the memory of Juneteenth will always be present, because we cannot afford to have any more delays, these are moments that we need right now and always!

So when did I learn about Juneteenth, I remember it being brought up during one of my summer classes as an Upward Bound student, and in passing from one of my aunts who lives in Texas. But I would really learn about Juneteenth while attending Clark Atlanta University (Atlanta, GA) and while out grocery shopping and a young man handed me a flyer for a Juneteenth celebration that was set to take place. Outside of the above-mentioned instances, I did not have any previous knowledge. Now I am not surprised by this, nor am I surprised that many other Black folks are only just now aware of what Juneteenth is and its significance. Even though I may not be from Texas, I take Juneteenth as my Independence Day/Emancipation Day, because clearly July 4th is not!!

Juneteenth is not only a day to celebrate, but also another day to inform the masses, continue speaking out on injustices, and always a day to remember! It’s also another excuse for me to celebrate my Blackness and create more ways to express #BlackJoy and agency. This holiday is also an opportunity to instill values of self-improvement, racial uplift, and reclamation of the family unit. These values were personified through religious sermons and the singing of negro spirituals, reading of the Emancipation Proclamation, rodeos, and the preservation of slave food traditions and delicacies (ex. BBQ and soul food). Juneteenth serves as another holiday that allows Black folks to commune and fellowship and just be free with ourselves!!

Today’s #BlackJoyMoment is about honoring and celebrating Juneteenth! In 2023, Juneteenth continues to be more than just a holiday, but in many ways a movement!! Not only are school curriculums slowly changing, but we are also becoming more informed about the holiday through popular media. To get you in the spirit, I have compiled a few things to get you in the celebratory mood!

Television & Film

  • 2nd Annual “Juneteenth: A Global Celebration for Freedom” Concert (CNN & OWN, 8 pm/ET)
  • Juneteenth Honors (Shades of Black/FAST channel, 8 pm/ET)
  •  Fight the Power: How Hip-Hop Changed the World (2023) [PBS]
  • Civil War (Or, Who Do We Think We Are) (2021) [Peacock]
  • Who We Are: A Chronicle of Racism in America (2021) [Netflix]
  • High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America- Episode #4-“Freedom” (2021) [Netflix]
  • Miss Juneteenth (2020) [Prime Video, Apple TV+]
  • Juneteenth Jamboree: A Place For Families (2016) [PBS]

Traditional Food & Drink to Enjoy

  • Red Foods & Drink [Red foods and drinks are the most prominent feature on a Juneteenth menu]: Red Punch, Red Velvet Cake, Hibiscus tea, Red beans & rice, Strawberries, and Watermelon
  • BBQ Foods: Chicken, Pork, Ribs, Hot links, and Brisket
  • Prosperity Meals/Sides: Collard greens and Cabbage, Black-eyed peas, Yams, Sweet Potatoes, Corn, and Cornbread
Photo by Lucas Andrade on Pexels.com

Juneteenth Resources:

And as a personal shout-out, check out this latest VCU News article where I am featured sharing my contribution to the Juneteenth Watch-List !!

Juneteenth Flag (The above Blue color represents the horizon blue and the red color below is symbolic of the ground soaked with blood…The five-pointed star refers both to Texas and to the “freedom of African Americans in all 50 states”; surrounding it is a new star, which represents a new beginning for all.)

In the end when I think about Juneteenth I am still hopeful…And I am definitely excited. Juneteenth is a holiday even worthy of being acknowledged internationally. Hopeful that the celebration of this holiday is not just for a moment or season, but for an infinity of lifetimes. Excited because with each passing day more and more people are learning about the importance and significance of Juneteenth!! Even if this is your first year, make sure it is not your last!!

Happy Juneteenth!! And I will see you tomorrow!!