Dear College of Education Community,
Last year, the U.S. Congress established Juneteenth on June 19th as an officially recognized federal holiday to mark the day slaves in Texas were informed of their freedom. This year, Juneteenth is officially observed today, Monday, as a federal holiday. The Washington Post has recommended 4 meaningful ways to observe Juneteenth this year, reminding us that this holiday is important for everyone to acknowledge and support as a form of socially engaged self-care. Here are their recommendations:
Visit a local or national museum-Mary Elliott, curator of American Slavery at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, emphasizes the educational value of museum experiences. For instance, Elliot said, “the Slavery and Freedom exhibition is really great because we go through that whole history from the beginning of slavery through Reconstruction. We also take it to segregation and leading up to today. So it allows you to look back and look forward.” In Los Angeles, the California Africa American Museum is located in the heart of Los Angeles, just steps away from USC, the California Science Center, and the Natural History Museum https://caamuseum.org/
For those who can’t visit a museum in person this year, a handful of Black museums and historical institutions from across the country will participate in a virtual program by BLKFreedom.org to commemorate Juneteenth.
Explore selected readings and documentaries-“Learn what Juneteenth is all about — that’s where you start,” said Cliff Robinson, who created the website Juneteenth.com about 25 years ago to offer information about national events. Among his recommendations for seeking out this history is the work of James Baldwin, an activist and acclaimed writer who wrote about racial injustice in America. “I think James is probably one of the most prolific people you can listen to along those lines,” Robinson said. In particular, he recommends “I Am Not Your Negro,” a 2016 documentary based on Baldwin’s unfinished manuscript “Remember This House,” which examines race relations in America based on Baldwin’s personal recollections of civil rights leaders Medgar Evers, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.
Attend a celebration or festivity-Among the most common ways to recognize Juneteenth are celebrations and festivities. In Los Angeles, find events this week at https://www.thrillist.com/events/los-angeles/how-to-celebrate-juneteenth-in-la-this-year
Get involved in the community-Robinson, the creator of Juneteenth.com, advises people to find out how to show up and support local Black organizations, which can have a more direct impact in the community. “Look locally and see who’s doing what in your city and find how you can participate, and if there’s no organization doing it, then think about creating an event,” Robinson said, whose website offers ideas for getting initiatives started in local communities, as well as in the workplace. In Los Angeles, go to https://www.libertyhill.org/news/blog/los-angeles-organizations-committed-to-black-lives/
To read more, go to https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/06/11/juneteenth-how-to-celebrate/
For a list of many self-care options, please see our COE self-care website for resources for faculty, staff, students, and the community at: https://www.csun.edu/eisner-education/self-care/articles-information-self-care
Happy Juneteenth!
Warmly,
Shari