Today is Juneteenth, also known as freedom day. It marks the day in 1865 that enslaved people in Texas were informed they had been freed—two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, and two months after the end of the Civil War.
But living freely—both then and now—takes far more than a proclamation. The promise of Juneteenth remains elusive, its freedom fragile and incomplete. The forces that upheld slavery for centuries have persisted and rematerialized in new and corrosive ways, from racial terror and Jim Crow to an exception allowing slavery in the prison system.
Our focus is women’s rights, but we recognize that oppression often wears many faces. Racism and sexism were intertwined evils at America’s founding that denied liberty and justice to all. Black women, in particular, have endured compounded injustice, often ignored and overlooked in both the fight for gender equality and for civil rights.
Juneteenth is a day for Black people to observe (or not) as they see fit. It has long been a day many Black Americans take to reflect and commemorate. But even though it’s not a “celebration” and certainly is not for white or other non-Black U.S. citizens, there are still ways we can and should take action and honor the day and the year-round struggle for equality and justice.
Support Black Businesses
Spending money at Black-owned businesses has tangible benefits for Black communities. Do some research and find local restaurants, stores, and other businesses in your area. Pledge to become a regular customer and urge others to do the same. This is reparative justice that affirms Black lives matter in a capitalist system.
Learn the History
Check out books like “The New Jim Crow” to help understand the depths of injustice faced by Black Americans. Follow activists and educators on social media, listen to Black perspectives and be willing to change your views and assumptions. Pass on what you’ve learned. Your knowledge and platform can help spread truth. Understanding the past is the only way to change the future.
Amplify Black Voices
Share posts from Black activists, thought leaders, and artists on your social platforms. Engage with their ideas and make sure any conversations about racial justice center around Black voices and experiences. Black people should be leading this movement.
Attend and Promote Events
Participate in local Juneteenth events open to allies. Share event details on social media to help raise awareness and increase attendance. Your presence matters, but should uplift and not appropriate. Come together to show you’re in the fight for the long haul.
Donate
If you are able to donate, your support of organizations fighting injustice and promoting Black voices and success—like the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, Color of Change, the National Black Child Development Institute, or the NAACP—can make a big difference. Contributions to groups promoting racial justice enable them to continue dismantling systemic racism. Consider setting up a recurring donation to a Black-led organization. Do some research to find organizations in your area and make a donation to support initiatives close to you. Your money makes a difference.
Educate Others
Share the history of Juneteenth and why honoring this day means continuing the still-incomplete march toward freedom. Discuss racial inequalities with friends and family so you can work together as allies for change. Share ways that your views have changed and your perspective has shifted. Use your platform, voice, and actions to spread understanding about issues affecting Black communities.
Contact Politicians
Don’t stay silent. Call your representatives and demand change. Tell them it’s time to remedy racial injustice. Share why this matters to you. Appeal to their conscience—systemic racism harms all. For information and to contact your elected officials, find your representatives here and find your senators here.
Register Voters
Help get out the vote in marginalized communities. Voter repression threatens our democracy, so volunteering to register new voters fights back by empowering and amplifying voices that deserve to be heard. Learn more about voter registration drives, voter information, what you can do to help, and more through organizations like Spread the Vote and Rock the Vote.
Continue the Fight
Keep learning, listening, speaking up, and fighting for true freedom. Promoting justice and fairness for one group helps pave the way for all. By joining the fight against racism, we also advance the cause of equality and justice for everyone. But also, fighting for racial justice is a cause worth fighting all on its own.
We must all work to fight discrimination, oppression, and bias on any front to make way for equality everywhere, for everyone.
