Juneteenth on Father’s Day ~ 2022
Celebrating Father’s Day and Juneteenth at Home
This year’s Father’s Day fell on Juneteenth, a national holiday celebrated on June 19th to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. At our home, we celebrated the holidays simultaneously by having family over, grilling, and enjoying outdoors by sitting under the umbrella-shaded patio tables on the deck. Cheers to Father’s Day! Salute to those who brought about the end of slavery in America!
Replica of the Original Juneteenth Flag
While we all are familiar with Father’s Day and its significance, many are not as acquainted with Juneteenth. Officially, Juneteenth marks the anniversary of the announcement on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom of enslaved people in the state of Texas. This occurred more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. Juneteenth as a celebration eventually became popular throughout the United States and became a national holiday in 2021.
As a child and young adult in Georgia, the holiday was not popular and we did not celebrate the occasIon. We did, however, celebrate the 4th of July, with my parents buying us tops and shorts and taking us to the park for picnics with family and friends.
As always, the table is our gathering place for family celebrations. This year did not disappoint. We give honor and thanks for the fathers in our lives. We commemorate our enslaved African American ancestors who are responsible for our very existence.
For more information on Juneteenth, look here.
