Celebrate Juneteenth

Caroline Griffith, EcoNews Journalist

Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, commemorates the day in 1865 that federal troops reached Galveston, Texas and declared the abolition of slavery. This declaration took place a full two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Juneteenth, also known as African- American Emancipation Day, is the longest-running African American holiday, and is celebrated by 47 states and the District of Columbia. However, it still isn’t recognized federally as an official holiday.

According to Juneteenth.com, “It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, guest speakers, picnics and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement and for planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.”

That spirit of celebration, community, self-reflection and self-improvement is at the heart of the local Juneteenth celebration hosted by Black Humboldt and the Eureka Chapter of the NAACP. This year’s virtual festival will feature local people of color vendors and businesses, workshop facilitators, music, performances and informational Knowledge for Power sessions. As stated on Black Humboldt’s website, “This holiday is very important and empowering for the Black communities all over the United States, but especially for Humboldt County, as this community makes up a very small percentage of the population and is often oppressed as a result. Black history is a part of The United States’ history and is important to celebrate as we create safe spaces and inclusion for the Black community in Humboldt County.” The Juneteenth celebration is open to everyone. More

information can be found at www.blackhumboldt. com/2021-juneteenth-celebration.

Beyond Juneteenth, it’s important to celebrate emancipation and Black joy and to acknowledge the contributions of Black environmentalists who have been overlooked and erased in history and the media. The environmental movement is guilty of not only ignoring the contributions of people of color, but also of glossing over the overtly racist words and actions of some of its founders (such as John Muir). As we celebrate Juneteenth this year, we can educate ourselves and celebrate the contributions of Black environmentalists, such as Solomon Brown, a self-taught naturalist and the first African-American employee of the Smithsonian Institute; Captain Charles Young, who in 1903 became the first Black National Park superintendent; MaVynee Betsch, who quit a career in opera and gave up a large inheritance to devote herself to environmental causes; and Rue Mapp, founder of Outdoor Afro (outdoorafro.com), “the nation’s leading, cutting edge network that celebrates and inspires Black connections and leadership in nature.”

We can also widen our self-reflection to include the movement we are participating in to see how we can learn from the work of Black environmentalists and environmental justice advocates, and how we can collaborate to further our common goals. For environmentalists, the aforementioned spirit of assessment, self-improvement and planning for the future should include taking a hard look at our organizations and policies to see what we can be doing to truly heal racial divisions in our community and work towards collective liberation. This assessment and planning for the future should last far beyond the celebration of Juneteenth.

We must strive to create opportunities to enjoy the wonder, joy, and comfort of the natural world with everyone in our community. As Sharrone Blanck, president of the Eureka NAACP says, “We are all rowing the boat in the same direction.” Let’s make sure we are rowing together and sharing the joy and responsibility of the work.