joy in JUNETEENTH
Discover more from THE VILLAGE!
As JUNETEENTH approaches, I’ve been spending more time thinking about what this national holiday means for me.
I’ve also been doing digging to learn more about the history and the Pan-African perspective on how as an American & African collective we are treating this day.
I’m sharing my observations so far in this process and I’m sharing because I want to invite you into the conversation by leaving a comment or reaching out personally.
Before I share my own perspective, feel free to use these prompts as guides.
What is your relationship to Juneteenth?
What happens in your body as you think about Juneteenth?
What happens in your heart as you think about Juneteenth?
You’re looking for some physical sensations such as tension or warmth to guide you to your truth.
While the mind loves to have the spotlight, the opportunity for us is rebuild our relationship to these beautiful melanin bodies!
First and foremost, I try to approach this whole thing with grace and remembering my own innocence.
This year will be my third or fourth year intentionally honoring it in some capacity and with each year, I learn more about why this event is celebrated in different cities.
I can feel the Ancestors guiding me more and more into a deep pride for my African lineage and identity.
As we re-indigenize ourselves, this will naturally occur.
This divine connection to the continent that is the most rich in natural resources (especially minerals). Something I learned recently was that there is a very valuable mineral in Congo that is critical the production of cell phones.
The richness in resources and minerals is one main reason why there has always been a fight for land and why now China is buying a lot of land in Africa at an alarming rate.
With all this happening in our collective, I support my mental health with centering play, rest, and joy. It use to be all about the grief and the work but that has caused me repeatedly to burn out.
Centering joy is about redirecting the energy I spend on seeking the approval of others towards what lights me up. My mental health over other peoples’ feelings.
When it comes to JUNETEENTH what lights me up is the thought of being in community with folks and witnessing Black joy.
What also lights me up about JUNETEENTH is to think about our Ancestors who made sure families in Texas knew they were free. As most of the troops were Black men, this is a story of solidarity within Black men to protect the family unit. Most of the slave owners at the time knew their slaves were free but kept quiet.
With guns and a signed general order with them, these warriors made sure our people knew about their freedom.
That kind of solidarity you don’t see anymore between Black men because we’re all in a deep survival mode to gain and hold power. It’s this sickness to control everything around us because we’re so hurt inside.
I do have hope for Black men from my own personal life. A member of the Liberate app community has continuously met me in my invitation for Black men to heal and rise to the occasion.
I want to salute an elder Anthony (AGee) Green who did some coaching with me a few months ago and we created a song together using his own wisdom as anchor. He’s got the cheat codes on time. He is Liberate Village’s second paying subscriber - you can become one with the subscribe button at the bottom of the email.
We recently reconnected over a 30 min phone call and it was beautiful for both of us to reflect on how far we’ve come since the coaching experience.
JUNETEENTH for me is the hope for village. Finding people that remind me I belong.
As this day approaches, it’s been my own internal work to not cap my excitement.
The easiest way to do that for me is through movement and dance.
As I’ve been making more space for rest, a developing practice of mine is to dance to my own music 🤣
I’m working on a new Afro-Indigenous dance single that I hope can help folks tap into the joy thats available around JUNETEENTH. I want to put some vocals on it and I’m giving the space for that to come through. It typically does through feeling inspired from the open hearts I feel on the free 30 min phone calls where I listen and offer my own heart into the container.
A working title is THE ANCESTORS’ WHISPER and it is a work in progress!
Some of us have been fighting this fight for a longtime and may find shame in letting down the armor and sword for one day. That’s natural too and my prayer is that you give your inner child more space to play.
Find a city near you that’s celebrating and I’d be open to hosting a virtual celebration - let me know in the comments!
Are you doing anything for Juneteenth? I’m always open to figuring out ways to partner together as I’m in the space of playing in unity.
Need some heart space or working on something for Juneteenth and would like some support? I’m still doing free 30 minute phone calls. Reach out to me at https://heru.cx/contact
One idea I’m playing with is creating a specific “job board” for folks that are apart of the village. I’m aware finances are tough for many. Are you looking for work or looking to hire? Let me know if this idea sounds good.