Juneteenth is now a federal holiday.
How can you celebrate?
Here’s how to learn about and celebrate the June 19th holiday, which marks the day when the last enslaved Americans were told they were free.
Are you tired of dealing with a perpetual loop of Zoom meetings and Wi-Fi connectivity issues?
Well, you can step outside this weekend while donning those immaculate red, black and green outfits (or listen to a few podcast episodes, more on that later).
South Florida U.S. House Rep. Frederica Wilson on Thursday witnessed President Joe Biden sign the bill that
made Juneteenth the first federal holiday to be nationally recognized since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983.
Since many companies across the country are giving staffers paid time off June 18 and 19, what are your plans? We’ve got you covered and there’s a ton of options.
WHAT IS JUNETEENTH?
But first: what is this new federal holiday and how did it come to be celebrated?
June 19, also known as Juneteenth or Emancipation Day, marks the day when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned from Union soldiers they were free two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 — setting more than three million enslaved people free. The African Americans who had been enslaved celebrated with food, music and prayer.
A year later on the same day, similar celebrations, including gathering with family and dancing, began in Texas and continued as the activities spread to African Americans outside of the state. However, Juneteenth wasn’t recognized as a state holiday until 1980. North Miami Beach became the first city in Miami-Dade County to declare it a municipal, paid holiday on April 8.
‘LAUNCHING PAD’
The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) is thrilled that Juneteenth is a federal holiday, but its executive director feels education doesn’t end with the holiday’s new status.
“Our AAAM members have been serving their respective communities virtually and in person for several decades, it’s refreshing to see that the emancipation of enslaved people throughout the United States is being celebrated in a way that can bring people together on a national level,” Executive Director Vedet Coleman-Robinson wrote in an email.
Coleman-Robinson added that members of AAAM serve in communities challenged by a double pandemic, which refers to COVID-19 and racism. AAAM’s museums continued to face adversity and stand strong while offering solace to those hit hard by trauma, officials said. So, Coleman-Robinson noted that Juneteenth being recognized is just the beginning and “we are poised to support and serve.”
“No matter the adversity, [we] will continue to be the beacons of hope in our respective communities and will continue to make certain that African American history and culture is preserved, interpreted, and protected for the entire nation,” she wrote.
Gale Nelson, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami believes a lot has changed since last summer’s socialjustice protests but this holiday is a “launching pad” for more progress.
“We learn from history, and then do something about it now. We cannot get stuck in a time warp,” he said.
Nelson planned to air his “Game of Life” podcast series at 9 a.m. Friday on YouTube to honor Juneteenth. He emphasized that these conversations intend to take a middleground approach and are inspiring, factual and educational.
Instead of debating with people who don’t think it should be a holiday, Nelson feels that it’s about using history to learn and take action.
“It’s not about us versus them. It’s let us celebrate diversity and recognize that there’s much more to be gained than to take this adversarial position about a real historical fact that impacts people of color, even to this day,” he added.
On June 25 at 4 p.m.,
Big Brothers Big Sisters is hosting a “Bigs in Blue” event with the MiamiDade Police Department to pair children with 20 officers. It will be held at the Miami nonprofit’s headquarters at 550 NW 42nd Ave. and is invitation-only.
“Not only have we made advances we have clearly moved the needle,” Nelson said. “We have folks investing . ... We need to make sure that this is not just a moment, but a consistent sustainable movement, so that our kids will not only see but be a part of the solution.”
IT’S REFRESHING TO SEE THAT THE EMANCIPATION OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES IS BEING CELEBRATED IN A WAY THAT CAN BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
Vedet Coleman-Robinson, executive director of the Association of African American Museums
HOW CAN I CELEBRATE AND LEARN ABOUT THE HOLIDAY? HERE ARE SOME EVENTS THIS WEEKEND
Rosie’s is hosting a Juneteenth brunch party on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The pop-up restaurant in Overtown at 439 NW Fourth Ave. is starting with breakfast and following with drinks at 10 a.m. and featuring DJ Spinelli.
AAAM is celebrating with Step Afrika! Juneteenth Virtual Celebration virtually on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. on Facebook and YouTube. The online event celebrates “and embodies the determination, resilience, and reclamation of freedom with newly filmed choreographic masterpieces inspired by the African American experience.”
For more information go to https://black museums.org/event/ step-afrika-juneteenth -virtual-celebration/
The Coral Gables
Art Cinema is screening “I Am Not Your Negro” at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. Edson Jean, the curator who is a Haitian-American filmmaker and is the 2020 Oolite Arts Cinematic Arts Resident, is introducing the film and holding a discussion after it ends. Adults are $11.75. Buy tickets at https:// prod3.agileticketing.net/ websales/pages/TicketSearchCriteria.aspx?evtinfo=697634~ebb48706c1f0-47bbb36e-9ac9f24dc60e&
Juneteenth Drive-In Celebration in Miami Gardens at 5 p.m. on Saturday with food trucks and music at Calder Casino, 21001 NW 27th Ave. It will be hosted by hosted by comedian Marvin Dixon. All attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and must remain near or in their cars at all times. More information at https://www.event brite.com/e/juneteenth -drive-in-celebrationtickets-153872961169
The Fourth Annual Juneteenth Food & Music Weekend Celebration in Overtown, hosted by The Hungry Black
Man, a popular food blog, features music and entertainment and food (including vegan food). On Saturday from noon to 7 p.m. at The Sand Bowl at Miami Beach’s Bandshell Park at 7275 Collins Ave., the food and music festival will take place. On Sunday from 6-9 p.m., a Father’s Day awards and dinner event with Udonis Haslem will be held at
800 Degrees Woodfired Kitchen at 2956 NE 199th St. in Aventura. Guests should wear masks and social distance. RSVP or find out more at https:// www.eventbrite.com/ e/hungry-black-manannual-juneteenth-food -music-weekendcelebration-tickets152401189059. All events are free except for the Sunday dinner.
Florida International University is holding its first Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Open and free for anyone, you can gather on the Earlene and Albert Dotson Pavilion Lawn at the MARC building at the campus at 11200 SW 8th St. . The event includes Phillip and Patricia Frost Art Museum exhibits and activities, music by DJ OSOCITY and Curtis Lundy, artisan vendors, food trucks and raffles. You must register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fiu-juneteenth-freedom-day-celebration-registration-156185347579
Juneteenth Celebration Art Showcase is a free event displaying Black art at 6 p.m. on Saturday. More information at https://www.event brite.com/e/juneteenth -celebration-artshowcase-registration -153129254723
Villain Theater is hosting the Black Is The New Black Stand-Up Comedy Show Juneteenth Edition at 5865 NE Second
Ave. in Miami from 8:3010 p.m. on Saturday. Temperature checks are given at the door and you must wear a mask when you’re not eating. If you don’t have one, organizers will hand you one. Social distancing is also required. Tickets are $15-$20. For more information or to buy tickets go to https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/ black-is-the-new-black -stand-up-comedy-show -juneteenth-editiontickets-158572489585
Miami Dade College’s Tower Theater is holding a screening of “Wade in the Water: Drowning in Racism for Juneteenth” and following with a discussion. The free event begins at 8 p.m. at 1508 SW Eighth St. More information at https:// www.eventbrite.com/ e/wade-in-the-water -drowning-in-racism -juneteenthscreening-andconversation-tickets157112574941
Juneteenth, a Liberation Celebration will take place on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Julius Littman Performing Arts Theater at 17011 NE 19th Ave. The City of North Miami
Beach is hosting the event, which will include speakers and family activities, such as a candlemaking station and a liberation soul brunch with cocktails and soul food.
The Roots Collective Black House is hosting a
Juneteenth Block Party and Day of Service on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 5525 NW Seventh Ave. in Miami. There will be food, music and kids sections. More information at https:// stayhappening.com/e /juneteenth-blockparty-day-of-serviceE3LUSFLBCGIU