Words by Henry Louis Gates, Jr for The Root & PBS, 2013.
“Of all Emancipation Day observances, Juneteenth falls closest to the summer solstice (this Friday, June 21), the longest day of the year, when the sun, at its zenith, defies the darkness in every state, including those once shadowed by slavery. By choosing to celebrate the last place in the South that freedom touched — reflecting the mystical glow of history and lore, memory and myth, as Ralph Ellison evoked in his posthumous novel, Juneteenth — we remember the shining promise of emancipation, along with the bloody path America took by delaying it and deferring fulfillment of those simple, unanticipated words in Gen. Granger’s original order No. 3: that “This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.” My hope this Juneteenth is that we never forget it.”
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth, now a federal holiday, is a day for deep reflection and celebration. The Alchemist’s Kitchen celebrates a commitment to justice, continuous learning & improvement, and all anti-racist work and movement. Let us (also) not glaze over the work that needs to be done.
Below are some actionable steps you might like to explore, celebrate, and honor during this time!
Learn:
Learn more about Juneteenth & read “What is Juneteenth” by Henry Louis Gates, Jr on PBS’ Website.
History.com also has an informative article (also titled “What is Juneteenth” on their Website.
Celebrate on June 19th:
Juneteenth celebrations that honor the freedom of the last enslaved people of African descent take place across New York City. Crucially, it is important to note that while Juneteenth has been celebrated in the Sound & Midwest, Juneteenth has not been recognized as a federal holiday until 2021. Yeah, we know…
Here are some ways you might like to observe this historic day in NYC from NYC GO
BRIC – Celebrate Brooklyn! Presents: Juneteenth Unityfest 2022
June 19, doors open 6:30 pm, Lena Horne Bandshell, 9th Street & Prospect Park West, Prospect Park
This concert, presented in collaboration with the Robert Randolph Foundation—which holds a few other Juneteenth events under the Unityfest banner—will amplify the stories of Black people through music and storytelling. With a growing lineup of performers including Tye Tribbett, Israel Houghton, and Mali Music, the show is a cool way to spend a warm summer night.
Honoring Juneteenth at Brooklyn Museum
June 19, 11 am to 7 pm, 200 Eastern Pkwy., Prospect Heights
Brooklyn Museum has a packed day of activities celebrating Black liberation, self-expression, community, and creativity. Good Company Bike Club will lead a Freedom Ride, guiding participants to borough landmarks significant to the Black community. There will be Egyptian-inspired yoga classes, poetry, drop-in family-fun activities such as art-making, a reading corner, a sound bath, and dance performances.
June 19, noon to 7 pm, Roy Wilkins Park, Merrick and Baisley Boulevards, St. Albans
Taking place in Roy Wilkins Park, a popular spot for borough events, Juneteenth in Queens features workshops, food and clothing vendors, and interactive family fun. A series of virtual happenings, including a town hall meeting on reparations in the Black community, leads up to the day. On Sunday at the park, you’ll find wellness workshops and vendors, a Black beauty bazaar, Black Fashion Row, an art exhibit and market, and a kids’ clubhouse.
June 19, 11am–4pm, Pelham Bay Park
Come out to Pelham Bay Park for a day honoring family and unity. The programming, put on by a number of local arts and events organizations, features wellness activities such as yoga and Zumba as well as live performances and interactive activities for the kids.
Vote with your Dollar!
A powerful way to honor Juneteenth is to support Black Owned Businesses and donate (if you can) to racial justice organizations that have fought for Black Americans.
This article (written in 2020) by Brady Langmann at Esquire.com has a comprehensive list of organizations you may wish to support.
Stay Educated
Educating yourself about Juneteenth is a great first step. Equally so, learning about Black Lives & communities is so so important. Here are some of our favorites:
Books:
- The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
- Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
- Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
- The Color Purple by Alice Walker
- Beloved by Toni Morrison
- The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
- Me & White Supremacy by Layla F. Saad
- White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
- Emergent Strategy, Adrienne Maree brown
- Decolonizing Trauma Work: Indigenous Stories & Strategies by Renee Linklater
- So You Wanna Talk about Race Ijeoma Oluo
- Care Work: Dreaming Disability Justice by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha
- Black Feminist Thought by Patricia Hill Collins
- Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon
- Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
- Barracoon by Zora Neale Hurston
- This Bridge Called My Back: Writings by Radical Women of Color by Cherríe Moraga
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
- The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century by Grace Lee Boggs
- Redefining Realness by Janet Mock
- The Fire Next Time by James Baldwin
- This book is Anti-Racist by Tiffany Jewell (especially good for young readers)
- For more: An Antiracist Reading List by Ibram X. Kendi in the New York Times
Instagram Accounts to Follow:
Antiracism Center: Twitter
Audre Lorde Project: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Black Women’s Blueprint: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Color Of Change: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Colorlines: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Conscious Kid: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Equal Justice Initiative (EJI): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Families Belong Together: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
MPowerChange: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Muslim Girl: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
National Domestic Workers Alliance: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
RAICES: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
SisterSong: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
United We Dream: Twitter | Instagram | Facebook
Anti-Racism Articles to Read:
“America’s Racial Contract is Killing Us” by Adam Serwer (Atlantic, May 8th, 2020)
“Who Gets to Be Afraid in America?” by Dr. Ibram X. Kendi (Atlantic, May 12, 2020)
“The Intersectionality Wars” by Jane Coaston (Vox, May 29th, 2019)
Films, TV Series, & Videos:
- 13th (Ava Duvernay) – Netflix
- When They See Us (Ava DuVernay)
- The Black Panthers, Vanguard of the Revolution– Available to Rent
- American Son (Kenny Leon) – Netflix
- I Am Not Your Negro (James Baldwin doc) — available to rent
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Barry Jenkins)
- Just Mercy (Dustin Daniel Cretton)
- King in the Wilderness- HBO
- The Hate U Give (George Tillman Jr.)
- Black Feminism & the Movement for Black Lives: Barbara Smith, Reina Gossett, Charlene Carruthers (50:48)
- “How Studying Privilege Systems Can Strengthen Compassion” | Peggy McIntosh at TEDxTimberlaneSchools (18:26)
Podcasts:
- 1619 (New York Times)
- About Race
- Code Switch
- Intersectionality Matters, hosted by Kimberlé Crenshaw
- Momentum: A Race Forward Podcast
- Pod for the Cause (from The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights)
- Pod Save the People (Crooked Media)
- The Combahee River Collective Statement
- How to Survive the End of the World
Anti-Racism Learning:
- Unity Over Comfort with Monique Melton
- Building a Police-Free Future: Frequently Asked Questions (presented by @mpd_150)
- Aja Barber on Patreon
- Rachel Ricketts Spiritual Activism Anti-Racism Webinars
A reminder that true wellness must include the safety of all Black & BIPOC members of our community. If you have other resources or organizations to donate to, please comment below so that this can be a collaborative place to learn.
This article includes references & updates from our Anti-Racism Resource List. A very big thank you to all the contributors.
Sourced from: The Team at The Alchemist’s Kitchen, Cara Kovacs by way of Camellia Dao-Ling (Patreon: www.patreon.com/wholesoul) / Resource Guide from Evanston Black Lives Matter Facebook Group, @livedexperiencecounsel, @lordfelix, @southasians4blacklives, Anti-Racism Resources for White People compiled by Sarah Sophie Flicker, Alyssa Klein in May 2020, Google Doc here, Evanston Public Library Resource List). We at The Alchemist’s Kitchen are not experts and encourage you to check out the many knowledgeable folks on this list.