“Eat it with bread made without yeast.  For seven days the bread you eat must be made without yeast, as when you escaped from Egypt in such a hurry.  Eat this bread – the bread of suffering – so that as long as you live you will remember the day you departed from Egypt.”– Deuteronomy 16:3 (NLT)

In short, Juneteenth is a federal holiday commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans; however, it really is so much more.  Juneteenth represents the point in history when the US was truly declared a free nation.  Juneteenth is a prompt for each of us to reflect on the historical lived experience of African American people in the United States.  All in all, Juneteenth is a complicated holiday; it’s an intersection where joy and sorrow meet.  It’s where the abundant joy and celebration of freedom meets that persistent sorrow and lament which accompanies the reality of a history of enslavement.

In the face of devastation, tragedy, and suffering, the temptation to forget is always present.  The trauma never leaves, but to intentionally recall the details can be an agonizing exercise in remembering.  Yet, several times in the Old Testament, God commands the people of Israel to remember that they were in bondage before He brought them out of Egypt.  However, God’s command to remember is not without grace; to the people of Israel, God extends the gift of ritual.  He gives them instructions on how to remember in a manner which facilitates communal healing, “so that as long as you live you will remember…”

Growing up, my family didn’t celebrate Juneteenth; I don’t recall this holiday being talked about in our home.  In fact, it wasn’t until I was an adult that I even understood the historical significance of Juneteenth.  Now, every June, I’m confronted with the recurring question of how to observe the holiday in a way that is authentic, honoring, and healing.  In recent years, my family has tried-on various different exercises of remembrance on Juneteenth in attempts to establish family traditions that embody these three characteristics.  We’re still figuring out what our rituals of remembrance will be.

Over 150 years after Union soldiers brought the message of emancipation to enslaved families in Galveston, TX, Juneteenth finally became a federal holiday, and this question of how to observe the holiday is pretty common.  Particularly, my white brothers and sisters who just want to get it right, find it to be a dilemma in discerning how to honor the historical events of Juneteenth in their observance of the holiday.  For those who are seeking ways to observe Juneteenth, here is a thoughtful list of suggestions and resources:

“Why Black and White People Should Commemorate Juneteenth Differently”
“What is Juneteenth?” First Name Basis Podcast
“23 Ways to Thoughtfully Celebrate Juneteenth (2023)”
“6 Ways White People Can Observe Juneteenth”
“4 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth as a White Person”
“What Does Juneteenth Celebrate?  The History of the Holiday” PBS Juneteenth Collection
“How to Celebrate the Complexity of Juneteenth”

Juneteenth Reading List
She Came to Slay by Erica Armstrong Dunbar
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave by Frederick Douglass
Beloved by Toni Morrison
Juneteenth by Ralph Ellison
Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington

I hope these resources help you and your loved ones plan for a meaningful Juneteenth this year.  If you’re interested in knowing more about ways you can participate in the work of racial healing and reconciliation, please check out the Repentance Project website and subscribe to our newsletter.