Defining Juneteenth in Our Image and Interests: A National Black Council of Elders Approach Whatever the dominant American society does in the ways of conceding holidays to African Americans, it is incumbent that we, as agents of our own liberation, history and humanity, define them in our own image and interests. Since Martin Luther King's birthday was established as a national holiday, the media and ruling race/class have attempted to redefine his actions, character and legacy to their benefit their social position. The problem of defining holidays arose significantly, with the growth of Kwanzaa, which began in a one-bedroom apartment with only 150 people, to today where it is celebrated as an act of Self Determination, by 60 million African people on all habitable continents. Since President Biden made Juneteenth a national holiday in 2021, it becomes ever more important that we give it meaning and significance in the flow of African Peoples' History. Originally, Juneteenth is the commemoration of June 19, 1865, the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas learned that they were free after General Gordon Granger and his Union troops landed in Galveston. Slaves in the Confederate States were freed on January 1, 1863 when President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. But, as we have learned all too often, America extends rights, while at the same time denies the ability or capacity to exercise those same rights. Thus, the people of Galveston had to wait 2 years before finding out that they were free. However, our history is not one determined by the acts of our oppressors. The fact is that the Juneteenth Liberation Day, is a marker point in the history of African people engaging in their own liberation. struggle since the times of: Queens Nzingha and Amina, King Shaka, Cinque, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and Marcus Garvey. Our struggle as an African people has a long and valiant history. Therefore, it is important we bestow Juneteenth the sacred meaning and significance it deserves as a holiday. In the National Black Council of Elders, we classify the age group between 25 and 55 as Nation Builders. One such Nation Builder within the NBCOE is Marshon Kincy, of Compton, California. Marshon, Founder of the Mighty Forefront, formulated a sacred and solemn concept for Juneteenth which the NBCOE supports as a community
building, culture-oriented concept which we endeavor to expand and build on with Marshon's and the community's permission. reflect on the fact that they were often very limited in what they could eat and drink to survive. In Marshon's concept, Juneteenth becomes a 7-day holiday event, marking the departure of many slaves from the plantations to a more wholesome living environment. These days are marked by foods that represent the limited provisions that sustained African peoples along their trek to freedom. Thus, the first day, June 13, is Fruits and Water Day: representing a more restricted diet of Africans leaving the plantations behind. The National Black Council of Elders would like to frame Marshon's concept in the following theoretical construct in order to add cultural significance and definition. Simply, we would like to frame the context of celebrating Juneteenth as freedom from verses freedom to. Freedom from a ruthless, terror-filled enslavement allowed for the freedom to build community. It also granted us the opportunity to re-engage with our history and culture. On the latter point, The NBCOE enjoins the Seven Days of Juneteenth with the Nguzo Saba: the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa. In doing so, we add greater cultural meaning to Juneteenth, we reinforce the significance of African values daily, and we define Juneteenth as a community-building event in the Freedom Movement. With this design, we combine the two concepts of freedom from slavery with the freedom to build community. This act of unity and self-determination will aid us in embarking on the Sankofa Journey back to our personal and collective Africanity, utilizing the Principles of Kwanzaa. Thus, Juneteenth and the Principles of Kwanzaa, become dual aspects of our Sankofa Journey back to an African mindset and system of values. So, as we celebrate each day of Juneteenth as Marshon has outlined, we will also light a candle for each day to observe the values our Sacred Ancestors have laid down for us: to rebuild our families and communities in our image and interests. Consistent with cultural tradition drum calls, is an awakening to the community of the need to assemble together and congregate for a united purpose. In this case, we come together to exercise our right of self-determination to define our collective destiny as a national and global community. On the first day, drum circles across the globe should open this seven-day celebration as a call for unity. We will awaken the national and Pan African community while also consuming fruits and water to honor the resilience of our ancestors. A candle will then be lit for Unity, the first Principle of Kwanzaa, as an act of recommitting to community building. On the second day of the Juneteenth Week, Marshon elevates the food choices of freed Africans to vegetables and bread in honor of them finding new settlements and raising their own food. We also light the Nguzo Saba candle for Kujichagulia, Self Determination. The meaning and significance of a Juneteenth Celebration is greatly diminished if there is no research, analysis and education of African history which explores what allowed for such an alien intrusion upon our history and traditions. A second component of this process is to arrive at those factors which will ensure an invasion of this sort can never happen again. This educational process therefore must involve key elements of rescue, reconstruction, and full restoration of African culture. This means our goals should assert our humanity, image and interests void of any alien influences or impositions. Without this process, JUNETEENTH has little or no value as a celebration. On the third day, we elevate to rice and beans as a matter of cultivation of crops raised for our own consumption. the candle lit on this day is for Ujima, Collective Work and Responsibility. The fourth day of Juneteenth represents the stability of our Sacred Ancestors and their Spiritual participation in our everyday lives. This is signified by adding Fish and Fowl (Chicken, Duck, Pheasant) to our food choices as we exercise our freedom of choice in our newfound liberation. The principle for which we light a candle for on this day is for Ujamaa, Cooperative Economics. The fifth day, is the day for Herbs and deserts, the former for the bounty of the earth and natural health, and the latter for the delights which the earth provides for our nourishment and joy. The principle for the day is Nia, Purpose, which is about committing to the building of community among our people, wherever we are. On the sixth day of Juneteenth, as Marshon lays it out, there will be an observance of diverse expressions of culture and fashion. This observance will in turn contribute to community building (especially in industry building). Marcus Garvey admonished us as a people and national community, to control every industry which affects our destiny and daily lives. This is the day when all in our community can wear any style of African-centered fashion and show off African designs at home, work and/or play. This is also a day for rejoicing through song, dance, poetry, drumming and other cultural expressions. This day is commensurate with the Kwanzaa Principle of Creativity for which we light the sixth candle. The last day of Juneteenth is for Libation, Celebration and Feasting (Karamu). The Libation is to invoke the Spirit of our Ancestors to join the Global Community in Celebration and Feasting, and for forging the path to our Full and Final Liberation. The celebration can take many forms. Here are some suggestions: When we admit that our history was interrupted by European terror and exploitation, it becomes important to restore our dignity and culture by reinstituting our own culturally relevant rituals and institutions such as: • Baby Whispers • Naming Ceremonies at 7 weeks • Rites of Passage from 2-14 yrs old • Arusi (African Wedding Ceremonies), • Family Reunions, • Celebrations of Life (Transition to Ancestorhood). These not only distinguish African people culturally but also create newly independent institutions which contribute to the economies in our communities. The Seventh and last Principle of Kwanzaa is Imani, Faith. and in addition to lighting the candle can be ritualized in the following manner. A. First, it is suggested each home set aside a Sacred place in the home to remember and honor ancestors and to share valuable lessons and stories with children in the family. Children should be encouraged to create songs, dances and poetry their honor. B. Ceremonies honoring ancestors for their endurance and fortitude should be done at or near a body of water for those who self-sacrificed. Included in these ceremonies should be a cleansing and healing ritual of all the impositions of enslavement. Naming ceremonies can be done, African Weddings, graduation from Rites of Passage, etc

MARSHO N. KINCY CEO/NAJL/NAJL.ORG