Honoring Juneteenth: 10 Powerful Ways to Celebrate Freedom & Black Excellence

“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” – Fannie Lou Hamer

It took two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation for its message to reach the Southern Confederate states. On June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger read the proclamation to the enslaved African Americans, informing them they were finally free.

This day—Juneteenth—marks not just delayed liberation but enduring Black resilience and resistance.

Juneteenth isn’t just a moment in history—it’s a movement. From learning to leading, storytelling to supporting, here are 10 powerful and meaningful ways to celebrate Juneteenth. 🌍🖤

10 Make It a Year-Round Commitment

Juneteenth is a gateway, not a finish line.

🧭 Think of ways on how to continue anti-racism work, celebrating Black culture, and advocating for justice throughout the year

➤ Freedom within the Black community is daily work

9 Use the Day for Civic Engagement

Promote freedom by advancing equity.

🗳️ Register to vote, attend a town hall, or volunteer for a justice-focused campaign

➤ Freedom isn’t passive, it’s getting involved

8 Engage Kids with Age-Appropriate Activities

Teach the next generation.

📖 Use storybooks, crafts, and games to explain slavery, freedom, and pride in a way kids can understand

➤ Try books like “Juneteenth for Mazie” or “All Different Now”

7 Incorporate African American Culture

Celebrate Black joy, resilience, and creativity.

🎶 Emphasize African American music, food, art, and fashion within the Black Community

➤ Culture brings forth resistance and celebration, within the Black community

6 Donate to Black-Led Organizations

Words alone, without action had no value.

💸 Support nonprofits working to promote racial justice, economic empowerment, education equity, or Black youth programs

➤ With donations, money that fold may make a large statement but the money that jingles still makes a strong impact

5 Reflect on Modern Injustice

Unfinished work.

⚖️ Reflection on the continuing racial inequalities in housing, education, health care, and policing

➤ We may live in the Country of the Free but was does freedom look like today?

4 Center Black Voices

Elevate Black-storytelling, raising the prominence of Black narratives.

🎙️ Letting Black people lead the narrative through podcasts, articles, and content created by Black historians, artists, and activists

➤Black-storytelling is an anti-performative allyship to the Black narrative

3 Attend or Host a Juneteenth Event

Staying involved in your community.

🎤 Survey for festivals, parades, or school-based organizations and if none is happening in the Black community, try organizing fairs, cookouts, or block parties

➤These social gatherings within the Black community can spark an interest to learn more about Juneteenth

2 Support Black-Owned Businesses

Spending your money where it matters.

🛍️ Spending your money dining at Black-owned restaurants, buying online content by Black creators or shop at Black-owned store

➤Supporting Black-owned businesses shouldn’t be once a year event but built within our psyche as a weekly habit

1 Learn the History

What is Juneteenth?

📚 Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, the enslaved Black people were finally enlightened  of their freedom

➤To commemorate Juneteenth, watch a documentary, read books by Black authors, or attend a local history event