Juneteenth: neither slavery nor involuntary servitude
“Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude” – Abraham Lincoln 16th President of the United States of America
Many refer to 19 June as America’s second Independence Day, the day when enslaved people in areas under Confederate control were brought confirmation of their emancipation at Galveston, Texas, by the Union Army in 1865. Over two years after President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation on 1 January 1863, Juneteenth marks the effective end of slavery. The commemoration of this event has been taking place since the 1800s. Texas became the first state to proclaim 19 June as a state-wide holiday in 1980 and Juneteenth was made a federal holiday in 2021. Many celebrate with friends and families at cookouts, featuring red food and drinks such as red kola and hibiscus to mark the festivities.
The symbolism of red
Red is for remembrance. Remembrance of the millions of black men, women and children who lost their lives as a result of slavery. Red is the colour of life-sustaining blood. It is a reminder of bloodshed, of death, and of suffering, and therefore through its loss it is also inseparably a symbol of life. Blood keeps us alive. The magnitude and importance of lives lost and lived, before, during and after emancipation, explains the prevalence of red foods in Juneteenth celebrations.
Food historian, Michael Twitty, argues that the red food tradition has strong symbolic connections for the Yoruba and the Kongo people who were brought to Texas in the 19th century. Red symbolised, power, sacrifice and transformation. Red, then, is empowerment. Strength found in the amidst of the dire conditions that they were subjected to, evoked using the symbolism of the culture of their homeland – power acquired and remembered through honouring their cultural heritage. Despite physical displacement from Central and West Africa, the enslaved people from these regions maintained, as best they could, their culture and history to cultivate community and practices in which their past and present were brought together. Sustenance being one of the focal points of collective contemplation and healing.
The flag
Juneteenth iconography includes the Juneteenth flag. Many people have adopted the pan-African flag as a way of representing the holiday, recalling the African heritage of enslaved people, with the flag being adopted initially at a UNIA conference in 1920. The red, black and green of the flag represents the blood, soil and fertility of Africa. However, in 1997, Ben Haith, also known as ‘Boston Ben’, designed the red, white and blue flag, using the colours and iconography of the American flag which we are all so accustomed to. The flag represents the liberty of the enslaved people and their descendants. The star of life which is central to Haith’s design embodies the notion of freedom that is intrinsic to not only Juneteenth, but also the foundations of American society at large. These flags used in conjunction with one another embody the multifaceted nature of African American identity, at once recalling African heritage as well as modern American citizenship.
As observers and allies look for more information, additional insights and reflect on the meaning and significance of the events of the day, we’ve collated some sources to help you find out more (see below).
Juneteenth is more widely known and celebrated in the United States of America, and we know that this is a significant day for our African American alumni. On this important day, we wish you a Happy Juneteenth!
Words by Amrita Rahman and Catherine Dunford
Find more information at:
‘Honouring the History and Legacy of Juneteenth’ Benjamin R. Fiore-Walker, The Council for Advancement and Support of Education, June 2020 https://www.case.org/resources/honoring-history-and-legacy-juneteenth?_zs=c22UQ1&_zl=i6Tl6
’The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth’, The National Museum of African American History & Culture https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth
‘The Meaning and History of Juneteenth Foods’, PBS, June 2023, https://www.pbs.org/articles/the-meaning-and-history-of-juneteenth-foods/#:~:text=The%20color%20red%20can%20represent,in%20peak%20season%20during%20Juneteenth.
‘The Symbolism Behind the Colors of Juneteenth’, Lizz Schumer, Good Housekeeping, June 2023, https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/a36687761/juneteenth-colors-meaning/