June 19 to July 4 should be recognized as a time to reflect on Black self-determination and resistance against oppressive systems. Juneteenth, rooted in African traditions of memory and governance, offers a living ritual of freedom that challenges the narrow ideals of July 4 “independence.”
This corridor, stretching from Galveston Bay’s Port 21 to Houston’s Freedmen’s Town, embodies African ways of convening, storytelling and building community in the face of state violence and repression. Texas, once a site of enslavement, now stands as a metaphor for contested sovereignty and enduring resistance.
Efforts like the Juneteenth Legacy Project and the Freedmen’s Town Conservancy reclaim this history, advancing cultural, political and economic self-determination.
Listen to Karen Hunter and Dr. Greg Carr break it down in the clip above.
