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Share with us: What does Juneteenth mean to you?

How will you be celebrating the holiday?

Last year was the first year when Massachusetts officially observed Juneteenth as a holiday. Associated Press/Chris Szagola

By Shira Laucharoen

June 10, 2022

2 minutes to read

This Juneteenth, a time of celebration and remembrance every June 19, marks the second official observation of the holiday in Massachusetts.

The day commemorates the freedom of enslaved Black people in America, when, in 1865, Union soldiers led by General Gordon Granger reached Galveston, Texas, declaring the Civil War to be over and the end of slavery in the U.S.

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Juneteenth has long been celebrated in the Black community — so we want to know what Black liberation means to you and how you’ll be celebrating this year. Whether you’re attending one of the city’s many events or honoring the holiday at home, we’re interested in hearing about your plans.

Following the nationwide unrest and racial justice demonstrations sparked by the murder of George Floyd in 2020, President Joe Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth Independence Day as a federal holiday. In Mass., Governor Charlie Baker also signed a bill establishing June 19 as an annual state holiday “in order to recognize the continued need to ensure racial freedom and equality.”

As the holiday approaches, we want to know what this time of celebration and reflection means to you.

Last year, we asked readers what the holiday meant to them. Sheryl N. shared that that generations of the city’s Black residents worked to dismantle inequities and racism. “That needs to be acknowledged and celebrated as a meaningful and significant role that the city of Boston has played.” Candidate for attorney general Andrea Campbell, who grew up celebrating the holiday with her family, said, “It’s the special day that formerly enslaved Black people learned they were free and celebrated this newfound liberation,” Campbell said. “I think about that when I celebrate Juneteenth and the resiliency of Black people.”

In Boston, there are many ways to honor Juneteenth this year. The Museum of Fine Arts will be hosting a free open house, featuring exhibits, talks, and performance. At Nubian Gallery, there will be a free poetry slam. And King Boston, a non-profit continuing the work of Martin Luther King Jr., will hold a block party in Nubian Square.

Let us know what Juneteenth signifies to you, and how you’re planning to celebrate the holiday. Fill out the form below to share your thoughts or e-mail us at [email protected]. Your response may be used in an upcoming Boston.com article and/or its social media channels.

Tell us: What does Juneteenth mean to you?

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