What We’re Reading This Juneteenth
Dr. Marcus Anthony Hunter, Professor of Sociology and American American Studies at UCLA, author of “Radical Reparations: Healing the Soul of a Nation:”
“Juneteenth as a federal holiday was always meant to be accompanied by reparations,” Hunter said. “Let us remember that until we have reparations, we are not fully experiencing the Juneteenth that former Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee meant for us to have.”
Glenn Harris, President, Race Forward, “They Tried to Silence Us, We Told Our Story Anyway:”
“Most people think of oral tradition simply as storytelling, but long before it became a federal holiday, oral history transformed Juneteenth into a movement-building strategy with insights for today,” said Harris. “For over 150 years, Juneteenth was kept alive by Black families and communities—even as textbooks and federal calendars ignored it. Juneteenth became a cultural and political force not because the government officially recognized it, but because we told our story. They tried to silence us but we told our story anyway.”
More here: https://wordinblack.com/2025/06/we-told-juneteenth-story-anyway/.
Ruth Jeannoel, Founder of FanmSaj & Restorative Justice Practitioner and author of “Restorative Justice: Circle Keeping for Community Healing:”
“Black and Brown people are protesting and rallying to make their voices heard,” Jeannoel said. “Some are resisting by participating in healing, safety planning, and workshops around circle keeping and community building. I hope we also remember the power of restorative justice and make meaning of it now. When it comes to building and sustaining community, restorative justice practices are critical. In addition to restorative justice, we can use tools such as circle keeping, being in conversation with neighbors and families, deep listening, mutual aid and more. There are multiple ways to engage and support one another.”
More here: https://wordinblack.com/2025/05/how-ruth-jeannoel-uses-restorative-justice-circles-to-heal/.
Eric K. Ward, Executive Vice President, Race Forward, “Juneteenth Reminds Us that the Fight for Freedom is Far from Over:”
“But Juneteenth isn’t just a day to celebrate. For me, it’s a marker—a moment to remember what came right after emancipation. Because every time Black people in this country have pushed forward toward freedom and justice, something has stepped up to push back. That pushback is the unfinished business of American democracy, and it’s playing out right now.”
More here: https://time.com/7295731/juneteenth-fight-for-freedom/.
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