In the 1990s, civil rights activist Opal Lee hosted an annual 2.5-mile walk to demand Juntaine’s national recognition and also to honor the rare story of some 250,000 enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, who learned of their freedom. only two and a half years later. the proclamation of emancipation.
“We need to heal. You need to know what happened and you need to recover from it, “Lee told CNN in an interview in 2021.
Today, Opal Lee’s goal is a reality and an excellent opportunity to continue to promote equality, civil rights, and the advancement of African Americans.
Here are ways you can celebrate June 16 – while supporting organizations that strive to create a fairer society for all.
Celebrate in person or at home
For many, this June 19 is a time to reconnect with loved ones and activities they once enjoyed before Covid-19. As communities emerge in honor of the day, you can also join in the fun in person or online.
Live from the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles at 8pm ET on June 19, CNN will air an inaugural event: Juneteenth: Global Freedom Day Concert. Produced by black creators Sean Gee of Live Nation Urban and Jesse Collins Entertainment, the historic concert event will celebrate June 16 and highlight the ongoing struggle for equality in the black community.
During CNN’s pre-show coverage of the event, which begins at 7 p.m., CNN’s Don Lemon will honor black artists and advocates working to correct inequality. Against the background of the holiday, the event also reminds that there is still work to be done in the fight against racial injustice.
“We knew it was important for our country and important for our audience to shed light on the meaning and significance of the Juneteenth,” said Jonita Due, senior vice president and chief executive for diversity, equity and inclusion for CNN. “And not just as a historic event, but really as a way to engage and educate people about what still needs to happen so that we can all achieve freedom and justice.
Here are some other celebrations on June 16, which also start this week.
- Denver, Colorado, will host its Juneteenth Music Festival, registering 50,000 participants annually. The event will begin with a festive parade and will offer two days of live entertainment, block parties and retail shopping from local vendors. Proceeds from the Juneteenth Music Festival will benefit the economic empowerment of young people and young adults.
- In Washington, D.C., music mogul and artist Farrell Williams will host his “Something in the Water Festival” weekend of the eleventh day. Held on Independence Avenue, the 3-day festival will include performances by Pharrell, SZA, Anderson Paak and others.
- In New York, the Tribeca Film Festival is hosting its Juneteenth program to celebrate “Black Stories and Raise the Voices of Black Storytellers.” Featured content will include podcasts, music, conversations and movies. For those living outside of New York, the Tribeca Film Festival will also include online offers.
- The Juneteenth Foundation will launch its range of events with an award ceremony at the Juneteenth Honors Awards, highlighting “Black Achievements, Our History, and the Achievements of African American Luminaries.” The foundation will also host a celebrity golf tournament, a blockchain freedom party promoting black business, and a virtual career fair. With the support of partner agencies, the foundation will also host a reception for Father’s Day on June 16, which will honor black fathers. The event will be held at the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.
Make the story come alive
The National Museum of African American History and Culture hosts live and personal events, offering engaging, educational opportunities that celebrate the dynamic lives of African American ancestors and their civic contribution to a fairer future.
“It’s important to show that people throughout history have always been involved in civics to make their lives better, to build a better union,” said Deirdre Cross of the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
“Understanding that the legacy of citizenship is especially necessary for people living today does not necessarily have to look back at the past with pink glasses, but simply to see that it is a tradition in this country to look at the current conditions and see how they could to be improved with the idea of improving the way we live now by providing a plan on how to make life better for future generations. “
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Feelings of Freedom: The Taste, Sounds, and Experience of an African-American Holiday.” Events include a study of cuisine, culture and civic engagement. A musical performance will be open to the public in person and online on June 19.
“Please join us, but you can digitally or in person. “Join us often,” says Cross.
Invest in education, justice and fairness
There are many organizations that fight for justice through education and empowerment. With your commitment, these groups can have a greater impact on communities across the country. Here are some ways you can get involved.
- The National Urban League is committed to the advancement of African Americans through economic empowerment, equality, and social justice. Since 1910, the organization has promoted the advancement of black Americans through a range of community and national initiatives. Among the causes supported by the organization: education, job training, workforce development and civic engagement. Among the organization’s main educational initiatives is a mentoring program for African-American children and teens. For more information on this non-profit organization’s educational initiative, click here.
- The Thurgood Marshall College Foundation raises the educational achievements of black youth. Named after Supreme Court Assistant Targud Marshall, the organization provides scholarships, internships, employment and leadership development. The non-profit organization claims to be “the largest organization in the nation, representing exclusively the Black College community.”
- 100 Black Men of America seeks to create meaningful social change by focusing on the next generation. As an African-American mentoring organization, the nonprofit uses the power of mentoring to develop young people and young adults as leaders who are capable of creating change in the world around them. The four cornerstones of the organization include mentoring, education, health / wellness, and economic empowerment.
Violation of economic injustice
Long-standing injustices and practices have made it difficult for African Americans to become business and homeowners over the years. The US Department of Commerce has found that “minority-owned businesses” are more likely to pay higher interest rates on loans, but many do not even apply for business loans because they are less likely to receive them. This is one of the factors that creates such racial inequality in wealth. The Federal Reserve found that “the average black household earns about half of the average white household,” making home ownership much less achievable for African Americans. According to a recent CNN story, “72 percent of white Americans own a home, while only 42 percent of black Americans own a home.”
Here are some organizations working to end oppressive practices to help African Americans enter business schools, start their own businesses, and acquire home ownership.
- JP Morgan Chase + Progress on the Path of Blacks — JP Morgan Chase has committed $ 30 billion by the end of 2025 to promote “economic growth and opportunities for black, Spanish and Latino communities.” The Advanced Black Pathways initiative promises access, money and loans for small business growth, housing loans and more.
- 3 on 30 – 3 on 30 is a plan of The Black Homeownership Collaborative to create “3 million net new black homeowners by 2030”. They say those numbers will increase the overall percentage of black homeowners by 10%. The collaboration has set out a 7-point plan to achieve this mission to help not only new black homeowners but also support existing ones.
- SEO or educational opportunities sponsors help young people from “underserved and historically excluded communities” to take the next step through academic programs, internships and networking opportunities. SEO helps more than 6,000 young people enter college each year, graduate from college, and then find jobs in a huge number of industries, including Wall Street.
- Black Owned Everything hosts a space where black brands can be “celebrated and validated”. The site includes products from beauty, lifestyle, clothing and accessories brands created by Black designers.
- EatOkra connects consumers with eateries owned by blacks in US cities. EatOkra seeks to enable “consumers to assert their strength as conscious buyers and discover a rich food culture, while helping black owners gain brand awareness and grow their business.”
- HomeFree-USA is a non-profit organization that works to bridge the gap in racial wealth by improving both home ownership and business opportunities for people of color. The organization also has a special focus on supporting students from historic black colleges and universities. Through its program, the Center for Financial Progress HomeFree-USA helps connect HBCU students with opportunities to work in real estate, technology and financial services.
Criminal justice reform
The Equal Justice Initiative says that mass imprisonment is “a problem for the civil rights of our time”. A 2021 CNN story cites a study from the Sentencing Project, which shows that “black Americans are imprisoned in state prisons at almost five times the rate of white Americans.” Racial differences and injustice are at the heart of this disproportionate figure. Here are some of the leaders in criminal justice reform.
- The Equal Justice Initiative works to end mass imprisonment, excessive punishment and racial inequality. The organization provides legal …
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