Reflections on our first Juneteenth
Juneteenth
June 19th, 1865, General Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to deliver the news to the last group of enslaved people who had not received the news of the Emancipation Proclamation over two years prior. I can imagine the joy of my ancestors as they realized their new freedom. I wonder how soon it occurred to them the loss of those two years and the bloodshed. A flood of emotions must have washed over them at once. But what next? What would life look like next, and would all Americans accept this new reality? When I picture it, it feels so complex.
Juneteenth being nationally recognized is a big deal. It feels complex as I reflect on not only the past year but our nation's struggle to reconcile its history. Fannie Lou Hammer said it best in her 1971 speech, "Nobody's Free Until Everybody's Free." That quote permeates my heart deeply.
Like my ancestors, I am filled with joy, curiosity, grief, and hope for the future.
While I don't know where we are headed as a nation, I am sure that Juneteenth celebrations will grow and grow, and I'm so glad to be a part of sharing the unabashed #Blackjoy that my brothers and sisters feel around our nation.
In the spirit of celebration, here are a few recommendations to continue to spread that joy!
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Eats
Some of my absolute favorite African American Cookbooks.
Jubilee: Toni Tipton Martin | Black Girl Baking: Jerrelle Guy | Sweet Potato Soul: Jenné Claiborne | Son of a Southern Chef: Cook with Soul: Lazarus Lynch | The African Cookbook: Jessica B. Harris | The RedRooster Cookbook: Marcus Samuelsson
Watch
Black joy and liberation on the screen!
High on the Hog| Miss Juneteenth | Homecoming | Fatherhood | Black Panther | Judas and the Black Messiah
Listen
You know I am a playlist Queen and could not miss the opportunity to create the perfect Juneteenth cookout playlist.
Listen to my Green + Well Juneteenth playlist on Spotify...you won't be mad about it!
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75jzJeYuOSS5jLJSPYZoqU?si=216b3df9ec4e4087
Be sure to like and follow my playlists on Spotify.