Juneteenth provides us with an honest story about freedom, how it was announced, how freedom was delayed, and how freedom finally reached people who had already waited far too long.

On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black people were told they were free, even though emancipation had been declared more than two years earlier. Note that delay is the point, and Juneteenth reminds us that freedom written into law does not always mean freedom lived in practice. During that time of unrest and uncertainty, Black families stood strong. They continued to work, love, hope, and suffer while freedom was withheld.

As our oldest son, stationed in Hawaii, made his way through the Juneteenth celebration in Honolulu, walking shoulder to shoulder with his friends, his eyes widened at the kaleidoscope of colors, music, and people. It was a long way from Georgia, but somehow, it still felt like home, and he had to show me everything.

As we FaceTime, he asked me, “Why do we celebrate Juneteenth, Mama?” Glancing up at me as they passed a food truck. I could hear people offering cold drinks and the sizzle of food in the fryers.

I paused and crouched my face into my phone so he could understand. “Because it’s our story of true freedom.”

I’ve repeated this to my children several times over the years, but I guess as they get older, they become a bit wiser and more intentional in their learning.

I went on to say, “It doesn’t matter if you were in Texas, Georgia, or Hawaii. Freedom didn’t come easy for our ancestors, and when it finally did, even late-it was worth remembering.” It is important to tell this story to future generations because history shapes how people see themselves and the world. When young people learn about Juneteenth, they learn that progress does not just happen. It takes strength, faith, and perseverance, often without recognition or protection. Juneteenth honors those who held on and believed in a future they could not yet see.

As SJ continued walking, stopping at a booth that served collard greens with smoked turkey and taro. I heard a woman nearby yell, “Greens for strength, just like your grandma used to say!”

Of course, going months without any type of turnips, mustards, or collard greens, he grinned and told me he had to get a plate. We ended our call, but he sent tons of videos and pictures showing him and his friends visiting vendors, sampling coconut cornbread, black-eyed pea salad with mango, a jerk chicken plate of rice, and a side of red velvet mochi. Each dish had a story, a root that stretched deep—part Southern, part island, and all heart.

As the day stretched into evening, he told me the music was uplifting, reminding him of home and his family. Later, after his Juneteenth adventure, he called me and said, “So Juneteenth means freedom... and food... and not forgetting?” Because of the time difference, I was a bit sleepy, but I answered securely. “That’s right, but Juneteenth also teaches responsibility. It underscores that freedom must be protected, not merely celebrated. Sharing this history helps the next generation recognize injustice, value truth, and understand that staying silent can allow harm to continue.”

After a long break, he said, “I want to tell the story too, Mama. Just like we do at home.”

I smiled, teared up a bit, and said, “Then keep tasting, keep listening, and keep asking. That’s how it stays alive.”

After our call ended, my thoughts shifted to his friends and how he described their full hearts and full plates; for a moment, I saw how Juneteenth, our history, has spread across the ocean. Remembering Juneteenth is not about staying stuck in the past. It is about being honest so the future can be better. When we tell our children the whole story, we give them understanding, dignity, and the wisdom to advance freedom.

Happy Juneteenth, SJ. We are so proud of you and love you so much!

References worth reading up on for learning more about Juneteenth’s History:

Gates, H. L., Jr. (2019). Stony the road: Reconstruction, white supremacy, and the rise of Jim Crow. Penguin Press.

Gordon-Reed, A. (2021). On Juneteenth. Liveright Publishing.

Library of Congress. (n.d.). Juneteenth: A celebration of freedom. https://www.loc.gov/item/ihas.200003206/

National Archives. (n.d.). The Emancipation Proclamation (1863). https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/emancipation-proclamation

National Museum of African American History and Culture. (n.d.). Juneteenth. Smithsonian Institution. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/juneteenth

Texas State Historical Association. (n.d.). Juneteenth. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/juneteenth

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