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What Juneteenth Means to Me: A Photo Essay

June 18, 2024

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Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the arrival of federal troops in Galveston, Texas, in 1865 to enforce the emancipation of all enslaved people. This pivotal moment came two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, thus marking a delayed but significant step toward freedom. Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States and is the longest-running African American holiday.

While it has been a cornerstone of Black American culture, particularly in the South, Juneteenth did not achieve federal recognition until 2021. This long-overdue acknowledgment came in the wake of a national awakening on racial injustice, ignited by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and others. Their deaths resulted in subsequent nationwide protests against systemic racism and police brutality. However, despite its deep roots and profound significance, Juneteenth still remains unfamiliar to many Americans.

For some Black Americans, Juneteenth is a cherished time to gather and celebrate independence and heritage. For others, it is a solemn reminder of the work that still remains to dismantle systemic racism and achieve equality. This year, in honor of Juneteenth, we have invited Legacy Health staff to share their thoughts on what this holiday means to them personally.

Read their powerful reflections and join us in honoring this pivotal moment in American history.

Black and white photo of Bahaa Wanly

Bahaa Wanley

Juneteenth means a lot of things to me. It's a symbol of the past that is deeply ingrained in our fabric as a country. It is an essential symbolic day that we should acknowledge, reflect and think about how far we've come and the continued progress we should continue to make. My family and I discuss and reflect on the important day and its significance in this country. We reflect on the monumental civil rights movement and people who have made an impact, such as MLK Jr., Cesar Chavez, Muhammad Ali and others, and all of their great work to pave the way for future generations.

 
Black and white photo of Shaniqua Crawford

Shaniqua Crawford, JD

For me, Juneteenth is a moment to reflect, ground myself and remember the sacrifices that brought us to this point. On a broader scale, Juneteenth should be acknowledged genuinely and authentically, and its origins honored. I support community events and take time to unplug and connect with those around me. A memory that deeply connects me to Juneteenth is the profound sense of joy and self-love I felt after reading the “Autobiography of Malcolm X.” This day always serves as a reset for me, giving me the renewed energy to contribute to progress for future generations.

Black and white photo of Kecia Kelly

Kecia M Kelly DNP, RN, NEA-BC, FACHE

As an African American woman who claims Texas as her home, I find Juneteenth significant. I am proud of my heritage and culture. I am grateful for the sacrifices my ancestors made for me to have the life and opportunities I have today.

Although I have lived all over the country, most of my immediate and extended family reside in Texas. So, growing up in Texas, this holiday was a big deal for us. We celebrated immensely. It was a time to gather with family and friends for the cookout (because we don’t use the term “picnic”). Although the heat was smoldering, it never prevented us from congregating under a tree or an awning for a good old-fashioned game of spades or dominoes. I love and cherish those memories. But I do not miss the Texas heat.

In a perfect world, this holiday would be celebrated like Independence Day. But I don’t believe our nation is ready for that. I am grateful for the incremental progress that has been made over the years to celebrate. I am more than happy to participate in a parade or other celebrations. But personally, this day is a day of reflection and pride for me.

Tyrell Comeaux, MS, RDN, L.D.

To me, Juneteenth is a day to honor the sacrifices and contributions made by all the ancestors who came before me. It’s a time to reflect on the price paid for the freedoms I have today — a moment to acknowledge, remember and never take for granted. It allows me to be fully present, to recognize the strength, resilience and legacy of my people, and to appreciate the path they paved so I could stand where I am today.

Juneteenth should be treated as more than just a day off or as symbolic recognition. It should be a moment of truth-telling and education. People should speak openly about the circumstances and events surrounding Juneteenth and use it as an opportunity to learn, reflect and engage in conversations that prevent history from repeating itself. Broader acknowledgment should come through education, community engagement and intentional celebration of Black culture and contributions.

I personally celebrate Juneteenth by spending time with my family and enjoying foods traditionally associated with the holiday, like red beans and rice, tomato salad and red velvet cake. I also attend local events and make it a point to support Black-owned businesses in the area. It’s a time for both reflection and celebration, a day to connect with others, honor our shared history and uplift the richness of Black culture and community.

Joy White, DNP, MBA, RN, WHNP-BC, PMHNP

To me, Juneteenth is a sobering and powerful reminder that freedom was not given — it was delayed, withheld and hard-fought. As someone who wasn’t introduced to Juneteenth until adulthood, I’m deeply aware of how much of our history was never taught, even to those of us living it. As a Black woman who spent much of her upbringing as the "only" in classrooms, leadership tables and even in patient care spaces, Juneteenth is personal. It’s not just a historical milestone — it’s a mirror that reflects the gaps we still need to close. It represents the ongoing journey toward liberation — mentally, spiritually and systemically — and the responsibility I carry to create a space where others don’t have to fight to be seen.

Juneteenth should be more than a day off or an emblem on a symbolic flag. It’s a national reckoning and an opportunity to deepen collective understanding of the cost of injustice. On a broader scale, Juneteenth should be embedded into how we educate, how we lead and how we show up for one another.

Because I discovered Juneteenth later in life, I approach it with intention. I use it as a day to slow down, reflect and reconnect with my community, with my culture, and with the parts of myself that had to navigate a world not built for me. For me that means supporting a local Black business, attending an event, or simply having conversations with colleagues and loved ones about what liberation really means today. It’s not always loud but it’s always rooted in reflection, pride and purpose.

Black and white photo of Chartisha Roberts

Chartisha Roberts

For me, Juneteenth means freedom, overcoming and unity. I have a shirt that says” free-ish,” that I like to wear because it represents the work we still have to do as a society and country. I'm seeing it in my own personal interactions and on TV regarding the injustice and discrimination we still face as a race. It's also a time for me to honor my ancestors and the strength they have passed down to us.

Juneteenth wasn't recognized or acknowledged in this country until George Floyd's death. Still, now that it is becoming more known, I hope more people take the time to understand what Juneteenth represents and use it to reflect on how far we have come and where we're also headed in the future. I've been more cautious about how I celebrate Juneteenth and what the moment means for me. I've been participating in the Oregon Juneteenth Festival for the last couple of years and enjoy celebrating with the community. It's been an opportunity for me to learn more about Juneteenth.

I remember my first introduction to Juneteenth when I was 10; I got my first American Girl doll. Her name was “Addy Walker,” and she is the fifth historical character in the American Girl Doll Historical Characters series that represents the Civil War Era. The series focuses on the lives of various historical characters throughout United States history. Addy was an African American girl who, at the start of her story, was enslaved with her family on a North Carolina plantation during the last years of the American Civil War. I saw Addy as a form of representation for other little girls like me and a representation of our story as a race that could help educate children about their history and the history of different races.

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