The Joys of June
A raised fist on a rainbow background. Image Credit: Lipman Hearne.
June is a great month for many reasons. Long days, warm weather, Juneteenth and PRIDE. AS we navigate life in a more socially-distanced society, it’s a joyful time to gather outdoors, for weddings, cultural celebrations, maybe a solstice celebration, or just a plunge in your local body of water to wash away the old and welcome in the new.
At Humble Oak, we believe that identity work is all about building relationships, trust, and respect for others’ identity. Celebrations like Juneteenth and PRIDE are such fabulous invitations for us to do just that– celebrate alongside others as allies and take some time to contemplate what these holidays mean. In that spirit, we want to share a few of the ways we’ve learned to celebrate Juneteenth and PRIDE in hopes of inspiring you to make some connections in your community.
Children dressed in the Juneteenth colors of black, red and green wave flags and pompoms as they march in a parade. Image Credit: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Juneteenth honors June 19th, 1865. Though the Emancipation Proclamation took effect January 1, 1863, in many places enslaved people were not liberated until much later. Two and a half years after it took effect, Union Army troops went to Galveston, TX, to support the liberation of enslaved people there. Juneteenth is celebrated as the day that slavery ended in the United States, the day the long-awaited promise of liberation became a reality.
Today, Juneteenth honors the liberation of enslaved peoples, often with prayer, parades, parties and other celebratory events. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021 and is a citywide holiday in many places, like Los Angeles. Many employers offer Juneteenth as a paid holiday so that their employees can celebrate in whatever way brings them most joy.
People dressed in rainbow colors march in a parade. Image Credit: The Boston Globe.
Pride encompasses LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) rights and is celebrated in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which lasted 6 days in Manhattan in June 1969 as police clashed with LGBTQ protesters. Today, Pride celebrations attract millions of participants each year as queer communities and allies honor the queer identity through parades, workshops, parties, picnics, lectures, concerts, and more.
The acknowledgement and celebration of Pride is a concrete step towards creating a more inclusive space where all are afforded basic rights and dignities, regardless of their sexuality or gender expression. Whether participating in a festival, hanging a Pride flag, or engaging in other actions, people celebrate Pride for a variety of personal, community, and national reasons.
While these events have their own unique history, the place Juneteenth holds in the middle of Pride Month is a reminder of the interconnectedness and intersectionality of identity. As GLSEN writes, “We would not have Pride as we know it today if it were not for the histories of Black and Brown revolutionary activism, and we must commit to anti-racism in all of our celebrations.”
An illustration describes three types of allyship actions. Image Credit: Lean In.
Some ways to celebrate the Joys of June, aka PRIDE & Juneteenth:
Attend a local event near you. Many communities are hosting celebrations for these events. In my town there is a Juneteenth picnic with musical performers Jenny and the Jazz Junketeers and our local Opera House is hosting a Silent Disco for PRIDE. What’s happening near you? Often times attending these events is a great way to learn more and often ticket sales support local causes.
Educate yourself. You can’t be a leader if you don’t don’t know where you’re going — or where you’re coming from. Check out this article on the History of LGBTQ+ Inclusion in the American Workforce. Explore Pride Foundation, The Trevor Project’s Resource Center, and PFLAG’s Advocacy work. To learn more about Juneteenth, read the NYTimes article “What is Juneteenth?” or pursue education through a more poetic lens. Here is a reading list from an independent bookstore, and here are some movies that celebrate Black joy. And, check out this recent roundup of 30 Best LGBTQ Movies of All Time.
Talk about the day with your community— both professional and personal. Use Juneteenth or PRIDE as a jumping off point for small changes, like shifting to inclusive language, building one’s awareness of LGBTQ+ current issues, and developing strategies for becoming a better ally. As Kiva Wilson and Dr. Evelyn Carter write, “Right now, one of the most powerful steps people can take is investing in active allyship, making the ongoing commitment to use one’s privilege to take actions that create more equitable and inclusive workplaces. In this moment, it means that others—particularly white people—need to show up for their Black colleagues by listening, learning, and amplifying Black voices.” They suggest sharing articles and hosting discussion groups, not because you are an expert on the topic but because you want to learn. Though seemingly small, these conversations can require significant personal reflection and vulnerability, and can also go a long way to contributing to a humble and curious social environment across our work and personal life.
Update your email signature. Add your pronouns to your email signature. Learn more about why pronouns matter here. As a bonus, consider adding this statement to your signature: “I am an ally of the LGBTQ community.”
Make a contribution to the cause. Another way to celebrate Pride and Juneteenth is to contribute financially to organizations doing impactful work. Choose from among national organizations like Black Lives Matter, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI), or the NAACP. Give to HBCUs. Or support programs dedicated to Black youth, such as Dream Defenders, Black Youth Project, Black Girls Code or the Colin Kaepernick Know Your Rights Camp. On the PRIDE side, some great national orgs to support include PFLAG, the Transgender Law Center, and the Human Rights Campaign. Of course, check to see if your company offers any charitable matching benefits that can help increase the impact of your gift.
Support Black Owned Businesses. Wherever you live, there are options for supporting Black Owned businesses. Here is a list of online merchants you can support, no matter where you live.