A Juneteenth Celebration
Juneteenth, this year was such a lively celebration amongst the black community.
Juneteenth this year was such a lively celebration amongst the black community. Throughout this time, social distancing was still in effect. Verzuz TV has taken many artists on Instagram Live and made them go head to head in musical battles. On Juneteenth, Alicia Keys and John Legend were chosen to perform.
For this Versus battle, both competitors were in the same room, singing live and playing their own piano accompaniment to their hits on Instagram Live. They also were singing each other’s background vocals, fond memories, and sending happy Juneteenth wishes. Various viewers stated that it really doesn’t get more smooth-piano relaxing than this. The world is still reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. People are taking to the streets to protest police brutality against Black people, a heavily emotional battle. Juneteenth, is also the day to commemorate the end of slavery in America. All of these factors made Friday's battle on Instagram more of a call for unity. Each artist played hits from "Diary" to "Ordinary People." They also played new music with Legend premiering "Never Break" and Keys premiering "Perfect Way to Die."
"I think we need a lot of hope right now," Keys said as she played "Empire State of Mind.” John Legend stated, "We're happy to celebrate freedom and the fight for more freedom, I've been so inspired watching people march in this street playing this song ... It means so much that people play this song fighting to be more free.” To be honest, John Legend dancing to his music was the best part of the battle.
Photo Credits: @verzuztv
Report: Soila Douce (@soila.xx)
Juneteenth Flag: It’s Meaning and Symbolic Importance
While many of us took Juneteenth to celebrate, commemorate and be blackity, black, black, many also choose to educate and spread awareness and knowledge on the meaning behind this historic day. The Juneteenth Flag is a representation of the end of slavery in the United States. The flag contains several meanings and symbols. Governor Andrew Cuomo, made Juneteenth a holiday for state employees and a new legislation has been designed to hold police more accountable after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed by a white Mineappolis police officer. According to mayor Bill De Blasio, Juneteenth will become an official city holiday starting next year. Unsure about the symbols and meaning behind the Juneteenth Flag
Source: Dallas News
What comes to mind when you hear the words “red white and blue?”
I would assume the American flag. However there is another flag with the same exact colors and that is the Juneteenth Flag.
The banner with its bold star in the middle is a representation of the end of slavery in the United States.
Activist Ben Haith, founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation, created the flag in 1997 with the help of collaborators, and Boston-based illustrator Lisa Jeanne Graf.
The flag was later revised in 2000 into the version we know today, according to the National Juneteenth Observation Foundation. Seven years later, the date “June 19, 1865,” was added, memorializing the day Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told enslaved African Americans of their emancipation.
Communities around the country have held flags in ceremonies on Juneteenth in celebration of their freedom, for two decades now.
According to Haith “This country has so many aspects to it that are spiritual, and I believe this flag is of that nature. It (the idea for the design) just came through me.”
Now that we’ve discussed the flag and it’s symbolic importance let’s break down what each element of the flag represents.
Source: CNN
The star
Represents Texas, the Lone Star State. It was in Galveston in 1865, where Union soldiers informed enslaved African Americans, that under the Emancipation Proclamation, they were free. It also represents the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states.
Source: CNN
The burst
The bursting outline around the star is inspired by a nova, a term that also means a new star. On the Juneteenth flag, this represents a new beginning for the African Americans of Galveston and throughout the land.
Source: KSL News Radio
The arc
Represents a new horizon: the opportunities and promise that lay ahead for black Americans.
Source: CBS
The colors
The red, white and blue represents the American flag, a reminder that slaves and their descendants were and are Americans.
June 19, 1865, represents the day that enslaved black people in Galveston, Texas became Americans under the law.
African Americans today are still fighting for equality and justice which takes us back to the meaning and symbols behind the flag, with Haith emphasizing that the colors symbolize the continuous commitment of people in the United States to do better and to live up to the American ideal of liberty and justice for all.
Report: Juana Norales
Instagram: @juana.n_
A New Juneteenth
This day has gained major recognition over the past few months as it has renewed interest within the black community of millennials in the latest number of deaths including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more past and present.
For those who are unaware, Juneteenth is June 19, 1865. On this day African-Americans in Galveston, TX were freed. A holiday that commemorates the end of slavery that has been celebrated since the late 1800s.
This day has gained major recognition over the past few months as it has renewed interest within the black community of millennials in the latest number of deaths including George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many more past and present.
In America, the equivalent holiday is Fourth of July that commemorates the Declaration of Independence of the United States. This is a holiday that white Americans take pride in celebrating with barbeques every summer and dressing in red, white, and blue to honor the flag. It is a day that goes into the white American history books.
With the recent events of deaths of black people by white police, it’s different now. The death of George Floyd sparked a revolution. The black community has begun to forcibly take its power back. Protests and looting has erupted all over the country and some internationally. For the cause that this has highlighted, major celebrities and organizations have donated large funds to campaigns and non-profits that assist in the bailouts for those arrested in the Black Lives Matter movement protests.
Major retail brands have taken stance on raising standards of equality and respect for people of color in America. Brands like Band-aid are showing support changing their product to show equality with all races. With this, major entertainment corporations are being called out for the indecent treatment of black celebrities such as Gabrielle Union and the racial intolerance she experienced working with NBC.
The black community is on a path to clean up racism in America, taking down corporations that profit off of their culture. Calling out racial injustices one corporation at a time. This is forcing a long list of retailers to reevaluate their diversity. Many retail brands have reported the percentage of black employees within their companies with many having a low number.
Fast food industries are starting to feel the effects of their stances as well. Wendy’s losing black business once word got out that the CEO donated funds to President Trump’s campaign, then the burning of Wendy’s location after the murder of Rayshard Brooks.
Black Americans have reached their peak of intolerance and are now outraged. The celebration of Juneteenth is to highlight the fact that although black people were freed, it seems that all these years they’ve been mentally enslaved along with their dignity. We’ve reached a point to expose every injustice we go through, whether its a large corporation or a middle-aged white racist yielding their white privilege by falsifying attacks from black people.
The black community celebrates Juneteenth to honor the black lives lost and how far we’ve come in the fight to end racism. This is a day to go into the history books for our black children of the future to learn about.
Photo Credits:
https://im-media.voltron.voanews.com/Drupal/01live-166/styles/sourced/s3/2020-05/AP20150280747351.jpg?itok=iAbC1SFF
https://www.niemanlab.org/images/black-lives-matter-protest-cc.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/EFdbLfZBxes/maxresdefault.jpg
Report: Josephine Coiscou
Trump's Fumble On Juneteenth Leads To New Nationally Recognized Holiday
“Juneteenth isn’t just a celebration… especially in times like this, it is a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how much work we have to do to become truly free.” - @juliaforboston (twitter)
Juneteenth represents when slavery was officially abolished in the United States. While the Emancipation Proclamation ordered to end slavery in 1863, it took two years before slaves in Texas were free on June 19, 1865. Across the country, Americans, specifically the black community, hold week-long celebrations to honor “freedom”. “Juneteenth isn’t just a celebration… especially in times like this, it is a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also how much work we have to do to become truly free", tweeted @juliaforboston.
Recently, United States President, Donald Trump decided that despite the pandemic he would hold a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma on the weekend of Juneteenth. Why is this a problem? “Did they really not know what Juneteenth was? I don’t believe it. You couldn’t get all the way to scheduling a rally without someone pointing it out. No, this was deliberate signaling. What really surprised them was the backlash. They were trying to do a Reagan, signaling support for racists with a campaign event- but America has changed”, tweeted @paulkrugman.
Historically, Tulsa is known for having one of America’s worst race riots, known as the Tulsa Race Massacre. This particular race riot was an attack on Tulsa’s predominately black Greenwood neighborhood, killing hundreds of black people, leaving thousands of people homeless, and destroying black businesses. The Tulsa Massacre also destroyed Black Wall Street, which was the wealthiest black community in America in 1921.
Prior to Trump’s decision to hold his rally in Tulsa during Juneteenth weekend, Juneteenth was not common knowledge to most Americans. Although bringing light to Juneteenth probably was not Trump’s intention, his ignorance granted a lot of people a free history lesson.
Now that more people are aware of Juneteenth’s significance, cities and even some states are taking steps towards recognizing Juneteenth as a paid-holiday.
Photo Credits:
Tulsa Massacre photo- History.com
Woman with flag: Chicagotribune.com
Report: Brionna Thompson
Beauty Bakerie Now Recognizes Juneteenth as Their Company's Independence Day
Beauty Bakerie now recognizes Juneteenth as their company’s Independence day in order to address the erasure of black people in American history. Many are asking what is Juneteenth? Why is this day an important day in American history? How could we all celebrate this holiday?
In an effort to do their part in addressing years of systemic racism beauty brand, Beauty Bakerie will no longer celebrate the 4th of July. Instead, the brand will recognize Juneteenth (June 19th) as its independence day. This is a bold move and a huge stride in addressing the deletion of black people in American history. After talking about this with many of my friends they questioned why it mattered.
So what is Juneteenth? And why is it so important to celebrate this day? Although the United States was freed from British control on July 4th, 1776, black people were not yet independent. It was not until nearly 100 years later everyone in this country was truly free. Juneteenth, also known as the “Black Independence Day”, signifies the day the last slaves were freed. The Emancipation Proclamation was implemented on January 1st, 1863 but remote states like Texas were not really affected by the proclamation. It actually wasn’t until after the Civil War in 1963 that ALL black people were freed from slavery.
Right now, Juneteenth is not celebrated as a national holiday. Communities still observe this day as the holiday it is! And while many group celebrations have been put on hold there are still ways to enjoy this day on your own. These include using social media to inform your followers about the history of Juneteenth. You could also support black-owned businesses the entire day. Finally, purchase Juneteenth signages and drape them outside and throughout the house to educate your household guests.
Photo Credits: beautybakerie.com, gvwire.com
Report: Lauren Tucker
At the rise of Covid-19 many of us first questioned the timeline of fashion week and would we see the regular calendar continue - the question weighed over many of us for months! It was refreshing to see design houses and designers across the globe take advantage of the uncertainty and plow into production mode - thus my interest in Jerri Reid New York - The Black Designer based in Brooklyn New York wow’d instagram with his latest collection paying homage to the Black Is King film which debuted earlier this year in July. I was taken aback at quick of a turn round the young designer produced and released his well crafted designs reflecting some of the films most memorable moments.