Juneteenth

Juneteenth

WE SEE YOU. WE HEAR YOU. WE STAND WITH YOU.


Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were free. Friendly reminder, this was 3 years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln in 1862. The Emancipation Proclamation was a declaration that all slaves were to be set free, but that’s not what happened and releasing of slaves was hardly enforced. 

Throughout the years, Juneteenth has been considered the “longest-running African-American holiday” and is known as “America’s second Independence Day.” It became a Texas state holiday in 1979.

Let’s talk about this though. I (Shep) grew up in the state of Texas and I had not heard of this holiday until June 2020.  So was it really something that was taught and celebrated? I acknowledge that I grew up with an immense amount of privilege and attended very prestigious schools, but clearly the state history classes I took failed me and were whitewashed. We need to do better teaching the true history of America, both the good and the bad.

Juneteenth is a day to celebrate independence for Black Americans and even has its own flag.

juneteenth flag

Created by Ben Haith in 1997, the flag has a solid star in the center to represent Texas, the Lone Star State, and uses a red arc to represent “new horizons and opportunities” for the Black community. The burst around the solid star represents the new beginning for Black Americans. Using blue and red as the colors is symbolic to mirror the colors of the American flag and representing that formerly enslaved humans and their descendants are free American citizens.

 

WORDS FROM OUR FRIEND, KRYSTIAN.

“June Nineteenth aka “Juneteenth” ✊🏾 a day to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the United States (but not all).

Kind of a big deal, right?     You would think.

But it wasn’t until June 17, 2021 that June 19th became a federal holiday.

Kind of ironic it’s the first new Federal holiday since Martin Luther King Day was established back in 1983.

 

Today, and everyday, is about Black liberation.

Did the work end on June 17th when Juneteenth became a holiday? No. Although I’m sure if did for many because something was “done”.

But what are we really doing?

Really ask yourself that, what are YOU doing?

Today and everyday until this day again next year.

 

How often do you educate yourself on Black history?

How often does Black freedom cross your mind?

It shouldn’t only happen when the nation is in an uproar over another murder of a Black man at the hands of police.

 

We devote time, effort, and energy to things we truly care about daily.

So I ask you again, what are YOU doing to make a difference?

 

Support Black people.

Support Black-owned businesses.

Read a book or an article.

Educate yourself.

 

I am Black✊🏾

I am gay 

and I am proud!”

- Krystian 

 

A MESSAGE FROM US. 

Happy Juneteenth, humans 🖤

We know that one holiday is not enough to undo the systemic issues racism and slavery has caused. So for the same reason #pride is forever, so is this work towards #racialequity. Today and every day we stand beside our fellow humans and will work to amplify the voices of the oppressed.

Here at OH, we are a white-owned company. We work each day to acknowledge our privileges, implicit biases, and racism. We are committed to and work daily to expand our own racial equity work.

Today we ask that you don’t support us. Support Black-owned organizations. Donate to Black-centered non-profits. Buy from Black-owned companies.

✊🏾 Other orgs to follow & support:

@translifeline

@bravespacealliance

@blackxcollective

@theokraproject

@transgenderdistrict

@forthegworls

@btfacollective

@princessjanaeplace

@blacktransmedia

@tgijusticeproject

@thestonewallprotests

 

✊🏽 Creators to follow:

@shaunt

@shedoeshim

@ibramxk

@jamilareddy

@nedratawwab

@ihartericka

@karamo

@steroidbeyonce

@msevareign

@rayzhon

@krystian_gabrielle

@thewordqueer

@callusthepaces

@sire.brax

@stokeskennedy

@houseofk.love

@kerrywashington

@austinchanning

 

Sources: History@afropuffchroniclesTime@krystian_gabrielleCNN