Juneteenth Reflections: Celebrating Black Freedom Through Photography

Yesterday we celebrated Juneteenth —a nationally recognized holiday that commemorates the delayed emancipation of enslaved African Americans in 1865. As a Bay Area Black photographer, I reflect on the legacy of this day through images: protest photography, portrait sessions, and cultural art that continue to tell the story of Black freedom and identity.

📜 What is Juneteenth and Why Is It Important?

On June 19, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and enforced the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved people were free. This came over two years after the proclamation had been issued, making Juneteenth a powerful symbol of delayed justice and Black resilience.

Today, Juneteenth is observed across the country as a Black American cultural holiday, celebrating freedom, family, history, and legacy.

🎨 The Colors of Juneteenth: Red, Black & Green

The colors often seen in Juneteenth artwork, flags, and celebrations each carry deep significance:

• Red: For the blood and sacrifice of African ancestors and those who fought for freedom.

• Black: For the strength, pride, and identity of the Black community.

• Green: For the land — stolen, fought for, and symbolic of a future of growth and liberation.

  
  

These colors also appear frequently in my Juneteenth photography, whether captured during local protests or stylized portrait sessions that pay homage to Black culture.

📸 Juneteenth Through Photography: Protest and Portrait

As a visual storyteller, I’ve documented both the activism and the art of Black life. Some of the most powerful Juneteenth moments I’ve captured include:

• Protest photography from Bay Area demonstrations, preserving real-time resistance and community solidarity.

• Creative portraits that celebrate Black joy, expression, and cultural heritage through fashion, symbolism, and intention.

  
  

Photography plays a critical role in keeping history alive — it’s a visual archive of the fight for freedom and the beauty of Black resilience.

⚠️ Juneteenth Recognition Still Faces Challenges

Despite becoming a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth still faces cultural and political resistance. In some states:

• Black history curriculum is being limited or erased from schools.

• Juneteenth events are underfunded or misunderstood.

• The deeper meaning of the day is sometimes reduced to surface-level celebration without acknowledgment of the struggle.

This is why storytelling and visual documentation remain vital — we must keep the truth visible.

🖤 Why We Must Keep Documenting Black History

Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not a moment — it’s a movement. As a Black photographer, I use my lens to capture not just portraits, but proof: of where we’ve been, how we fight, and how we thrive.

Let the images speak. Let the memories be preserved. And let the stories keep moving forward.