4 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth as a White Person
On June 19th, Americans will officially celebrate Juneteenth as a federal holiday for the second time. For Black Americans and especially American descendants of slavery, this day has been a reason for celebration since 1865, when American troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, bringing news of the Emancipation Proclamation—a full two and a half years after its signing into law on January 1, 1863, and two months after General Robert E. Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. Since that time, Juneteenth has been a holiday primarily remembered and celebrated by Black Americans.
For white Americans, like me, many who may never have even heard about Juneteenth before this decade, a holiday like this may come with some risks and questions. At its heart, Juneteenth is about celebrating the end of an atrocity committed upon one racial group by another. The enslavers and defenders of chattel slavery in the United States were white people; even if our lineage is not directly connected to these enslavers and defenders, we have benefited from its historic collateral and systemic impacts. Indeed, although Juneteenth and its historic origins are notable, racial exploitation and systemic oppression have not ceased at any point in the last 159 years. They have simply evolved. Still, its recognition as a federal holiday, as well as its emergence in the national consciousness, represents an opportunity for all Americans.
The discomfort that many white Americans may be feeling around what to make of this holiday is of significant importance given the racial reckoning with which we are contending as a country. Individuals, as well as corporations, are contending with what to “do” about celebrating Juneteenth. I think a measure of acceptance is required—namely, accepting that not everything is for us white folks and that’s okay. This holiday represents an incredible opportunity to de-center the white experience and culture as the norm and for corporations to learn that not every holiday is about turning a profit.
We have four suggestions regarding what white people can do to honor and celebrate Juneteenth.
1. Learn about the history of Juneteenth and how it came to be
Juneteenth is a day of significance, and those aspiring to honor it could spend a part of their holiday learning more about its history. A multitude of articles and other resources highlight the historical significance of Juneteenth. One of the best we found goes far beyond the surface-level facts surrounding that particular date: What Is Juneteenth by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. One particularly salient and concise insight that Dr. Gates shares is that many contenders have emerged over the years for a day to celebrate emancipation. The historical context and perspective he provides are both insightful and humbling.
Additional Resources to Consider:
2. Give to a local Black organization or charity that serves the needs of African Americans
Quite simply, if you have the financial means, invest in the things you say you care about. If you don’t have the means, then find a way to donate your time to charities that support and serve the needs of African Americans in your community.
If you’re truly invested in racial equity, donating both your time and money will have the greatest impact. Your money will fund programming and a vision that benefits historically marginalized communities. Your time will support that programming and offer you an important educational opportunity to listen to and learn more about racial equity issues. In addition, if you’re like most white Americans, there’s a good chance that most of the people in your personal and professional networks look a lot like you. Trust me: You need more Black people in your life. Call it what you will—exposure or immersion therapy—but you need to get yourself some of that goodness.
Some organizations to donate to or volunteer with:
3. Educate yourself on the origins of Black culture in America, including its oppression and appropriation
Dear white folks: Not everything—Juneteenth included—is for us. If you’re feeling like you have to “do” something to celebrate this federal holiday, it’s probably best that you do nothing. If you’ve spent the majority of your life not celebrating it or knowing of its existence, it would be totally acceptable and perhaps even advisable for you to do nothing.
Related to the impulse to “meaningfully celebrate” this holiday as a white person is the historic oppression and appropriation of Black culture that white Americans are known for. Fight that instinct and critically assess the ways in which you may be responsible for perpetuating systemic racism in your personal and professional life. There’s an important distinction between appropriation and appreciation. This Juneteenth, spend some time thinking about this distinction and examining the power, privilege, and historic inequity embedded within it.
4. Attend a Juneteenth celebration and learn more about its significance to the Black community
If you get invited to a private Juneteenth celebration, you’re doing something right. There’s a good chance that those who invited you see you as a white person who is culturally humble enough to be brought to such an event. If this is the case, you’re not the kind of person who needs to be told how to behave or that no one there should be responsible for your education. Just showing up and listening will be enough, and you’ll learn a lot about what a Juneteenth celebration is all about.
If you plan to attend a public Juneteenth celebration, make sure that you fully educate yourself on the history of Juneteenth and think critically about what it means for you to show up. Consider whether your attendance is based on feelings of guilt or shame or whether this might be an example of performative allyship. If either of these scenarios is true, maybe save your attendance for next year and spend the day engaging with all three of the first items on this list.
Quote for Reflection:
“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, unanticipating 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.’” - Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
