Tag: black blogger

Observing Juneteenth: A Celebration of Freedom

Q'Zion2 Comments

Hello, beautiful people! I’m Q’Zion, and welcome or welcome back to my blog! ♡

As you all know, there are a bunch of holidays that many of us celebrate each year; Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Valentine’s, and New Year’s are just a few examples. And while those are all great, there is one holiday in particular that was recently made a national holiday due to a bill signed by Joe Biden, coming into effect on June of 2021. That holiday is Juneteenth. And today, I’m going to tell you all what it’s all about.

What is Juneteenth?

In short, Juneteenth–a combination of the words “June” and “nineteenth”–is a holiday celebrating the freedom of the last African slaves in the United States on June 19, 1865, over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Not only is it a mark of the end of slavery within our country, but also the freedom of African-Americans. This year, it just so happens to be shared with Father’s Day, which falls on the third Sunday of June.

Why should we celebrate it?

Even though Juneteenth is considered a national holiday, most Americans know little to nothing about it. This percentage includes some African-Americans, like myself. I believe Juneteenth is a holiday that should be observed and celebrated by American citizens of all nationalities and ethnic identities. Here are some reasons why.

1. We need to learn the good and bads of our nation’s history

While slavery was an unfourtunate element of the history of the United States, it is important that we know about what slaves went through before they were freed, their struggle to gain all of their natural rights, and the people who helped make African-American freedom a reality.

2. To help fight for equality

While Black Americans are now free from slavery, we are still constant victims of police brutality, discrimination due to the color of our skin or the way we dress our hair, higher chance of imprisonment, and higher employment rates. Our world has come a long way from its past, but racism is still a reality among some. Juneteenth gives us a chance to fight for equality for ALL human beings.

3. The freedom of slaves affects every American

As soon as the last African-American slaves were freed, it was a step forward to a more understanding, anti-racist, and fair country and world. Even after they gained their freedom, our black ancestors still struggled to gain all of their legal rights as American citizens. And many of us still struggle in today’s world. But with every peaceful protest, campaign, and usage of other personal platforms to spread awareness about Juneteenth, we can all work together to make our nation better than what it was decades ago.

Hopefully, this helped you all understand what Juneteenth is, as well as its importance. While the world isn’t perfect, we are making progress. And Juneteenth is a reminder that when we work together– in faith, perseverance, and love–there is no goal that our nation can’t achieve.

LET’S CHAT~Had you ever heard of Juneteenth before you read this post? If so, did you learn anything new about it today?

Thank you so much for joining me! I’ll see you next time! ♡

June 12 is a special day . . . here’s why

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Anyone who reads my blog knows that I tend to use National (and Global) Days as inspiration. Not only do they address super interesting topics, but they are also amazing blog post ideas. Therefore, today I did my routinely check of June 12’s National Days, and there were so many interesting options that I didn’t know which one to choose.

Instead of making that utterly impossible decision, I decided to discuss three of the National Days for June 12 all in one blog post! I’ve got a lot of talking to do, so let’s just get this party started!

National Loving Day

Although we should love others and ourselves every day, National Loving Day is the perfect opportunity to put in an extra effort to help everyone around you feel loved. But to be more specific, this special holiday is catered to the celebration of interracial couples. The holiday was inspired by Mildred and Richard Loving (a black woman and white man) who got married in 1958. Less than 10 years later, they went to court in the case of Loving vs. Virginia, causing the Supreme Court to make it illegal for any state within the country to ban interracial marriages. This National Day is a reminder that love is a feeling that goes far beyond something as simple as race.

National Children’s Day

Honestly, being a kid is amazing. And although we can anticipate what it will be like to be adults, it’s important that we enjoy every single second of our childhood. National Children’s Day is not only a celebration of how children light up the world, but also to spread awareness about kids who have mental and physical illnesses. What I love about this National Day is that it gives kids a day of their own, and acknowledges that self care is an important practice regardless of how old you are.

Race Unity Day

Diversity in friendship circles in real life and the media is always heartwarming for me to see. I love seeing people of different races embrace each other’s differences–in fact, if there was more racial unity in this world, I think it would be a better place. Race Unity Day gives us an opportunity to educate ourselves on racism in our countries and world, how it has changed over the years, and what we can do to spread awareness for equal rights for all people regardless of their nationalities.

June 12 is a very special day due to its important meaning as it adresses diversity and the young people who make up over one fourth of the world’s population. I really enjoy looking at the National Day’s because they allow you to learn so much about what’s happening in the world, and the wonderful slices of life that deserve to be celebrated.

LET’S CHAT~Do you have a favorite National Day? If so, what is it?

Have a blessed day, y’all! See you laters! 💖