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.
Chartisha Roberts
Program Coordinator Sourcing Recruitment
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.
Sam Ashby
Director of Performance Excellence
Juneteenth is a cautionary tale about the importance of connection and community to African Americans and the African diaspora at large. After the Civil War, African American’s didn’t have the ability to share news of being freed, which cost a group of trafficked African Americans in Texas two years of freedom. Juneteenth is about the opportunity to have that connection and community that our ancestors didn’t.
Juneteenth should be a national conversation about connection, community and self-determination. Juneteenth shows us how important those three things are to every culture but particularly African Americans. It’s not just a celebration for African Americans, but a time for us to identify our co-conspirators (allies that actually take risks) and those who share our belief to step up and actively work to achieve change because there is still work to be done.
We have a Juneteenth celebration every year with family and friends to celebrate the ability to connect like-minded individuals, which is something our ancestors couldn’t do. We also use it as a time to identify where we want to go as a family and how we want to get there.
Bahaa Wanly
President, Legacy Emanuel Medical Center
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.
Shaniqua Crawford, JD
Senior Director of People Services
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.
Kecia Kelly
Chief Nursing Officer, Legacy Health
As an African American woman who claims Texas as her home, I find Juneteenth significant. I am proud of my heritage and my 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.
