A water slide in Florida, a fashion show in North Carolina, balloon animals in Arizona and parades across the country — these are just some of the Juneteenth celebration scenes documented by USA TODAY Network journalists as many Americans on Sunday gathered to observe Black freedom.
Juneteenth commemorates the official end of slavery in the U.S., when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedoms on June 19, 1865, over two years after U.S. President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. The inaugural commemoration of it was in 1866, and it was officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
Also known as Juneteenth National Independence Day, the holiday speaks to the broad hope, yet frustration of the historic, structural and modern-day injustices towards Black people Richard Cooper, co-coordinator of African American Studies at Widener University, told The Tennessean.
If you’ve been on any social media over the past few years, you’ve likely seen viral hashtags such as #BlackJoy, #BlackGirlMagic and so on.
In 2015, Kleaver Cruz began #BlackJoy and later the Black Joy Project after making a commitment to ”not watch anymore videos of Black death and continue refusing to repost them anywhere on the internet.” Cruz posted a photo of his mom smiling, asking others to join the movement and post their own #BlackJoy moments.
“I decided that my social media timelines needed some smiles amidst the sharing of important information, thoughts, art, photos and videos that can be upsetting and at its worst depressing and traumatizing,” Cruz’s website states.
Joy is crucial for the wellbeing of human beings and a community, according to Bettina Love, author, activist and scholar.
“Joy is crucial for social change; Joy is crucial for teaching. Finding joy in the midst of pain and trauma is the fight to be fully human. A revolutionary spirit that embraces joy, self-care, and love is moving towards wholeness. Acknowledging joy is to make yourself aware of your humanity, creativity, self-determination, power, and ability to love abundantly.”
More young people have become involved in planning Juneteenth events, said Torrina Harris, program director for the Nia Cultural Center in Galveston, the holiday’s birthplace.
Juneteenth provides an opportunity to reflect on “the different practices or norms that are contradicting the values of freedom” and consider how to challenge those things, Harris said.
Some of the largest celebrations in the U.S. not only touch on the history of slavery in America, but celebrate Black culture, businesses and food.
Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She loves to make pizza, photograph friends and spoil her loving cat Pearl.
Contributing:Chelsey Cox and Saleen Martin, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
