Why I Won’t Share Our Freedom: Juneteenth Is Not for Sale

Juneteenth isn’t a one-day deal. It’s a legacy. And I’ve got something to say.

What is Juneteenth?

Every year around Juneteenth, the same noise starts bubbling up:
“Why isn’t this a holiday for everyone?”
“Can’t we all celebrate freedom together?”

No. And here’s why.

Juneteenth is not a cookout theme. It’s not for corporate discounts, social media filters, or watered-down history lessons.

It’s not the “Black version” of the Fourth of July.

Juneteenth is sacred.

It’s about delayed justice, lost time, and the resilience of our ancestors.

It’s not a day to be “shared”—it’s a day to be respected.

Juneteenth and Black Liberation Go Deeper Than Celebration

On June 19, 1865, enslaved Black people in Texas were finally told they were free—a full two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation.

Juneteenth represents the very moment when the lie of American freedom was exposed.

It's the day when Black people in Texas finally got word that slavery had technically ended… even though nobody bothered to tell them.

That’s what Juneteenth marks: the day the last of our people learned what the law had already declared.

But freedom didn’t come with land. It didn’t come with resources. It didn’t come with protection.

It came with nothing—just the clothes on their backs and a system still designed to keep them trapped.

Juneteenth is about the last of the enslaved finally being told they were free—two and a half years after freedom had already been declared.

Let that sink in.

My ancestors were still in chains while America was busy waving flags.

So no, I’m not going to “share” this one day that was never freely given to us in the first place.

We’ve shared enough.

Why Black Americans Are Still Fighting for Real Freedom

Honestly, freedom looks different depending on your zip code and skin color.

Let’s be real; not everything is perfect right now.

I celebrate Juneteenth, but I’m still fighting for:

• Black families still face a massive racial wealth gap.

• Our kids attend underfunded schools and face early criminalization.

• Our people are disproportionately policed, imprisoned, and silenced.

• We have to keep proving our humanity to a system that devalues it.

Don’t tell us to “celebrate freedom” when we’re still fighting to live freely.

Black Pain Is Not a Marketing Opportunity

We didn’t ask for Juneteenth-themed ice cream.
We didn’t ask for hashtags or “allyship” PR stunts.

We asked for:

• Justice

• Truth in education

• Police accountability

• Economic opportunity

• Protection for our communities

Instead, we got a performative celebration with no structural change.

Turning Juneteenth into a marketing campaign is like putting sprinkles on oppression and calling it a cupcake.

We don’t want sweets—we want substance.

Why Juneteenth Is a Black Holiday, Not an "American" One

Let me make this clear: Juneteenth is not for everyone.

Juneteenth is a Black holiday.
It’s rooted in Black struggle, Black survival, and Black joy in the face of terror.

It is for us—Black people.

That doesn’t mean non-Black folks can’t respect it, support it, or learn from it.

But don’t try to claim it.

Don’t try to take it over.

And definitely don’t try to turn it into a general “diversity day.”

This is a memorial, not a party.

It’s about our ancestors’ grief, our community’s strength, and our fight for real freedom.

If you weren’t shackled in the story, you don’t get to rewrite the ending. Period.

Juneteenth Is a Mirror and a Call to Action

History is not being taught here. It's a reflection. America realizes from Juneteenth that justice postponed is justice denied. It serves as a reminder that freedom was not handed to us.

We fought every era—slavery, Jim Crow, the war on drugs, police brutality, gentrification, and others, which continued, rebuilt, and fought on.

When I am celebrating Juneteenth, I am not gazing into the rearview mirror; I am informing people that I am not through yet and I am still here. The message of this holiday is forward progression. Very loudly. Unapologetically. Without permission.

We don’t just honor Juneteenth to reflect. We celebrate it to look ahead.

To ask:

• Have we truly dismantled the systems that upheld slavery?

• Are Black voices centered in education, leadership, and policy?

• Is “freedom” still for those who can afford it, or look the part?

Juneteenth is a reminder that freedom doesn’t just happen once. It’s a process.

A battle.

A torch passed from generation to generation.

Let Black Joy Be Revolutionary

Even in all the struggle, Juneteenth is about Black joy too.

It’s a celebration of:

• Our survival

• Our spirit

• Our creativity

• Our community

But that joy is sacred. It’s not for discount codes or party flyers. It’s not for brands to exploit or whitewash.

It’s ours.

What Is Juneteenth? FAQs

Get answers to common questions about Juneteenth, its meaning, and how to celebrate it respectfully.

What is the real meaning of Juneteenth?

Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Juneteenth commemorates the day that Black enslaved persons in Texas finally discovered they were free. It is a potent representation of unending struggle and postponed justice.

How is Juneteenth different from the Fourth of July?

The Fourth commemorates the freedom of white Americans in 1776. Juneteenth commemorates the long-overdue and fiercely contested freedom of African Americans in 1865. The holiday—and the story—are different.

Why is Juneteenth important today?

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is a continuous process. It reminds us of the ongoing systemic injustices and encourages us to continue striving towards genuine freedom.

Should non-Black people celebrate Juneteenth?

Non-Black allies can be Juneteenth-friendly by learning about its history, elevating Black voices, and respecting it as a holy day—not appropriating it for profits or parties.

Final Thoughts: Respect the Day, Protect the Legacy

If you want to support Juneteenth, don’t ask to “share” it. Ask how you can protect it.

- Amplify Black stories.

- Teach your children the real history.

- Support Black-owned businesses and movements.

- Push for justice in your community.

But don’t ask us to split the one day that barely scratches the surface of what we’ve endured.

We’re not free until we all are free.

And that day? Still hasn’t come.

Juneteenth is not your BBQ.

It’s not your brand moment.

It’s a battle cry.

It’s a promise.

It’s a legacy we will not water down.