2022: A Celebration of Freedom

2022: A Celebration of Freedom

By: Christen Bourgeois Date: June 29th, 2022

2022 PRIDE Flag

This year will forever be commemorated as a Celebration of Freedom!

In 2022, Black and Brown were officially added to our nation’s PRIDE flag and Juneteenth was recognized as a holiday to commemorate the June 19, 1865 Emancipation of all Chattel Slaves post Civil War.

Juneteenth–the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of slavery ending in the United States–is sometimes referred to as ‘Independence Day for Blacks’ or ‘America’s second Independence Day’ and variously known as ‘Freedom Day’, ‘Emancipation Day’, ‘Jubilee Day’ or ‘Liberation Day’.

As of today, 49 states and the District of Columbia commemorate Juneteenth as a state holiday, offering opportunities to reflect and celebrate the progress our nation has made towards inclusivity and equality. However, the historic impact of slavery, discrimination, and hate in the United States continues to shape our communities, and our lives.

Please join HIPRC in sharing ways to learn, celebrate, and support our nation’s progress towards freedom.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES >>

Take a look at these articles, books, essays, lectures, videos & other educational resources:

Courses on the history and progress of the LGBTQIA+ community are also offered by departments across the UW College of Arts & Sciences:

CELEBRATION IDEAS >>

Historically, Juneteenth was celebrated across Texas with family gatherings and reunions, public readings of the Emancipation Proclamation or sermons, singing hymns, and small festivals. People dressed up in their finery as a nod to the lack of nice–or any–clothing available to the enslaved. They roasted whole pigs, cows or goats over open pits in a manner practiced traditionally in Africa. Red foods and drinks, such as red velvet cake, strawberry pie, and red soda were served to acknowledge the bloodshed of slaves.

Today, Juneteenth is largely celebrated across our nation. In Washington state, you can enjoy a Discover Pass FREE Day at a local state park, in addition to a variety of local resources:

WAYS TO FIND SUPPORT & GIVE BACK >>

If you are a resident of Washington state, consider setting up a monthly payroll deduction through the UWCFD–or, making a one-time gift to one or more of our charitable organizations actively working to remove systemic barriers to Black opportunity and to support communities in which Black voices and lives matter: