Juneteenth marks the day when, in 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, discovered they were finally free from being mere property.
This took place more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth today consequently not only represents freedom, it also serves as a memory of the nation's complicated history with race and racism.
The first Juneteenth, in 1866, was commemorated by newly freed Black people taking pride in their status and the event was reportedly marked with communal meals, singing and church services.
And Juneteenth 2022 celebrations will be celebrated worldwide, with the theme recognizing emancipation of all kinds.
However, the holiday's arrival coincides with Walmart pulling its Juneteenth ice cream following a backlash on social media.
Stephen Frost, a diversity and inclusion thought leader, believes while recognition of the Juneteenth is growing in the U.S and elsewhere, much more needs to be done.
He told Newsweek: "System change is essential because while white women got the vote at the start of the 1900s, Black women weren't fully able to vote until the 1960s.
"Structural racism also sees the Black incarceration rate in the US at 33 percent with population share at only 12 percent.
"Only when Black people are empowered to lead and are in charge of the decisions that affect them will we truly tackle racism."
The Meaning of the Juneteenth Flag And Its Symbols
The first flag representing Juneteenth was created in 1997 by Ben Haith, the founder of the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation (NJCF).
Artist Lisa Jeanne Graf stated on her site she "fine-tuned" the version of the original contributors, also including Verlene Hines, Azim and Eliot Design, resulting in the flag waved with pride at Juneteenth marches today.
Set in a blue and red horizontally banded background, a white star sits in the center, surrounded by another 12-pointed star.
The National Juneteenth Observance Foundation claims flag designer Haith led the holiday's initial flag-raising ceremony in Boston's Roxbury Heritage Park.
Haith told CNN last year: "This country has so many aspects to it that are spiritual, and I believe this flag is of that nature," It [the idea for the design] just came through me."
According to NJOF, all the individual symbols depicted in the Juneteenth flag have been carefully designed to represent specific themes important to the movement.
The Arc:
The flag's horizontal aspect is an attempt to symbolize both the fresh opportunities and promising futures for Black Americans.
The Star:
This refers to the both Lone Star State of Texas, where Juneteenth was first celebrated, and the freedom of every Black American across the nation.
The Star's Outline:
The other white mark outlining the star's perimeter is thought to reflect a nova, representing a new and optimistic rebirth for the nation.
Experts at the language learning platform Babbel note Juneteenth is being marked in many ways this year.
They told Newsweek: "There are many ways to commemorate Juneteenth, centered around supporting, celebrating and learning about Black history, culture, and life.
"In the United States, there will be several formal events, street fairs, parades and concerts occurring in honor of the holiday.
"Globally, you can celebrate Juneteenth by supporting Black-owned businesses: from restaurants and cafés, to small businesses, artists, authors, poets, and leaders within the Black community, supporting and supporting up for Black communities during the holiday is just one way to celebrate black culture year-round."
The Babbel experts also note how self-education is another important tool to tap into Juneteenth, and beyond.
They said: "Reading educational materials and engaging in sociopolitical rhetoric from Black perspectives can make a positive impact on society's awareness of, and ability to identify and take action against systemic racism.
"Documentaries, books, podcasts, and even social media pages made by Black creators are great and accessible sources of these types of materials.
"You can also take a more politically direct route to show support for the Black community: donating your time or money to reputable organizations such as the NAACP [The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People] or NBJC [National Black Justice Coalition], supporting local and national Black charities, and signing petitions in support of Black freedom and rights are all excellent ways to show up for this community, on Juneteenth and beyond."
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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