What Juneteenth Means to Me

From a very young age, my mother, of blessed memory, made sure to buy me diverse books that showcased different experiences. She said it was important for me to understand that people have multiple identities, different cultures, and histories than my own, and they should all be celebrated.

I first learned about Juneteenth after my mom brought home a copy of Aunt Harriet’s Underground Railroad in the Sky by Faith Ringold. The story is historically based and centers on a little girl, Cassie, who has been separated from her brother who managed to get on the train before it took off. Cassie flies into the sky, and with Harriet Tubman as her guide, she retraces the real Underground Railroad, going through the steps taken by escaping slaves, and eventually reunites with her brother.

I had so many questions for my mom, who explained how Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad helped real people escape from slavery and she went on to explain the significance of Juneteenth. The holiday marks the date when Union Major General Gordon Granger and his troops issued the proclamation of freedom for slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. This was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863.

According to Juneteenth’s official website, it is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. While Juneteenth marks an important milestone in Black American rights, it did not erase racism. It was simply a step forward. It is important to remember that Black people did not gain U.S. citizenship until 1868; two years later, they gained the right to vote. Systemic racism has put numerous obstacles in front of Black people, including segregation, violence, voter suppression, disproportionate punishment, and incarceration, just to name a few.

Juneteenth did not become a federal holiday until 2021, thanks in part to the hard work of Opal Lee, who advocated tirelessly for it to be recognized. To me, Juneteenth is a reminder to keep hope alive and fight the good fight. It is also a powerful reminder that we were all made b’tzelem Elohim in the image of God. But, as Rabbi Tarfon reminds us, “You are not required to finish the task, but neither are you free to desist from it” (Pirke Avot 2:16). Yes, racial justice has made great strides, but there is still work to be done. We cannot become complacent.

Racial justice is an ongoing fight that we cannot become complacent about, especially within the Jewish community. As Jews, we have experienced slavery and marginalization and have worked to make the world a better place. We worked alongside the Black community during the civil rights movement, a proud moment in our history that is evoked frequently. Many synagogues and Jewish organizations have taken up the mantle of fighting for racial justice, from voting reforms to protesting police brutality. As a people, Jews have done great things in the social justice sphere, and it can be easy to think that our work is done when it comes to racial justice, but there is so much more to do. We must celebrate the victories, but we cannot become complacent.

So, what can you do to commemorate Juneteenth?

• Learn the history of Juneteenth.
• Watch a documentary about slavery.
• Read books written by Black authors and poets like Amanda Gorman, James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Ibram X. Kendi, and W.E.B. Du Bois, just to name a few.
  • Here is a reading list from the National Museum of African American History & Culture.
• Support Black-owned businesses.
• Visit a museum that commemorates and celebrates Black history.
  • The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture, Washington, DC
  • Houston Museum of African American Culture, Houston, TX
  • Amistad Research Center, New Orleans, LA
  • August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Pittsburgh, PA
  • The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel, Memphis, TN
  • The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, OH
• Donate to Black-led organizations, such as:
  • The Solutions Project, an intersectional advocacy group that creates opportunities for women of color to access non-profit funding.
  • The Loveland Foundation, which provides therapeutic support to Black women, girls, and gender nonbinary individuals.
  • A more comprehensive list of organizations can be found on the Giving Gap website.
• Talk to your children about race. Tell them about what this day means to Black Americans and how we can show support.
• Work to become actively anti-racist. This inner work is ongoing and it is important to keep learning.