Celebrating Juneteenth

This Sunday our market falls on June 19th, which is Juneteenth, the oldest national holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Even though it has been celebrated for over 150 years, Juneteenth has often been overlooked and unacknowledged. Last year, President Biden signed a new law, which made Juneteenth a federally recognized holiday. This was a major step forward in increasing the visibility of Juneteenth. Today, we want to take some time to talk about this important holiday and all it represents.

Juneteenth serves as a reminder and celebration of June 19th, 1865, the day that Union forces reached Galveston, Texas with the news that the Civil War was over and all enslaved people were now freed. Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation had been in effect for over two years at this point but had little actual impact on those living in Texas. When General Lee’s troops arrived in Texas, their first action was to share the following decree:

“The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.”

In the 157 years since that day, Juneteenth has been celebrated in a variety of ways. Many families choose to spend Juneteenth together, in prayer or fellowship. Some choose to travel back to Galveston, Texas to mark this holiday. Communities often hold public events, such as parades, rodeos, baseball games, picnics and barbeques. Elders are invited to speak and share their stories of the past.

It is traditional to spend Juneteenth preparing and eating food together. There aren’t many specific and traditional Juneteenth foods, due to the nature of the holiday. Freedom encompasses so much, including being able to grow and eat the food of your choosing. Many choose to make family favorites, or dishes that are saved for special occasions. One piece of Juneteenth that is widely observed is eating red foods, in remembrance of the lives lost and blood shed during slavery. This can include strawberry soda, watermelon, or red velvet cake.

Oregon has a long history of racist laws and practices, which have made it hard or impossible to thrive as a Black person in this state. We are committed to changing the systems of white supremacy that exist around us, as a market, and as individuals. We will be celebrating Juneteenth at the market this weekend with our Power of Produce kid’s booth, and in our hearts. Join us while we remember the enslaved, celebrate the freed, and acknowledge just how much further we have to go.