juneteenth

“What the people want is simple. They want an America as good as its promise.” —Barbara C. Jordan

Until this week, I didn’t really know much about our newest federal holiday, Juneteenth. On Monday, our local community garden hosted a Juneteenth celebration at the gardens. Following a welcoming to attendees, we were treated to a brief history of this holiday and the promise its celebrating portends. It was a joyful event!

The gardens were a vivid display of green in contrast to the surrounding desert and were beautifully decorated for the occasion. A widely varied selection of produce was harvested and shared with the community as a wonderful farm-to-table offering. There were featured events such as bead work, painting, coloring, Juneteenth bingo, and a Unity Tree, thoughtfully planned for children and adults alike. Along a garden fence, the organizers had painted a black tree with sprawling branches, the Unity Tree. All attendees were invited to paint their hands in the Juneteenth colors of red, yellow, or green and then leave an imprint of their painted hand on this tree. It was so much fun!

The events of this Juneteenth day celebrated in my little desert town inspired this painting. The impact of the vibrant sunflowers that grew profusely and so freely throughout the garden seemed to capture the mood of the day. The butterflies gliding into the light illustrated our optimism as we move forward.

As we work toward a more perfect America, we acknowledge that our work and efforts must continue because we know that the turmoil of the past is not entirely past. The sharing of vegetables and fruits grown in this community garden environment was a fitting way to illustrate the unity and kindness that makes our future seem so bright. Juneteenth 2023 was a joyful day in which to look ahead and be focused on the possibilities for our shared future.