It’s official! Juneteenth is a national holiday! Some even refer to it as Freedom Day! Let’s break down the history. Juneteenth is short for June 19. On that date in 1865, Union soldiers brought the news to slaves in Texas that they were free. That’s right, two years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation some African Americans were still living as enslaved men and women.
Today, Juneteenth is a federally recognized holiday. What do you plan to do on Juneteenth? Here are some ideas.
Read a Book
Teach your children the importance of this holiday with a colorful book. Juneteenth Jellybean, written by our very own Editor In Chief, Arian T. Moore is a fun picture book that teaches children all about Juneteenth. This book was foreworded by Opal Lee, the Grandmother of Juneteenth.
My favorite part of the book is the awesome affirmations that encourage children to believe in themselves. Plus the kids will love the coloring page at the back. Why not have a Juneteenth coloring contest as a fun family activity?
Opal Lee also wrote a children’s book for the holiday. Titled Juneteenth: A Children’s Story, this book also teaches children the story of Juneteenth and why this holiday is important to our nation.
Ms. Lee hosted a Juneteenth Community Celebration for over 40 years. In 2016 at 90 years of age, she launched a walking campaign to Washington, D.C. to bring awareness of the need for Juneteenth to be a National Day of Observance.
Break out the Grill
I mean, this is freedom day right? Break out the grill and charcoal and make some family memories. Our menu includes BBQ chicken, corn on the cobb, shrimp kabobs, baked beans, potato salad, burgers, kale salad, fruit medley, green beans, macaroni and cheese, cornbread and pound cake.
My good friend told me she was making an African themed dish to celebrate Juneteenth. Jollof rice is delicious and would pair beautifully with a traditional BBQ. According to Chef Lola, “Jollof rice is one of the most common West African dishes eaten in the regions of Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Gambia, Mali, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Cameroun, and Liberia. However, each of these West African countries has their own variation of this meal.” Here is her recipe for Jollof rice.
- 3/4 cup (54.5g) oil
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 5 Tbsp Tomato paste
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 1 Tbsp Ginger Grated
- 2 bay leaves
- Blended pepper sauce see below
- 1 Tbsp Thyme
- 1 Tbsp Curry Powder
- 1 Tsp Salt or add to taste
- White Pepper or black pepper to taste
- 1 Tbsp chicken bouillon powder or 3 cubes
- 6 Cups (370g) Rice Long grain
- 4 Cups (473.18g) chicken stock
- 1 large tomato sliced
- 1 medium onion sliced
- 2 tbsp butter at room temperature optional
For the sauce, blend together:
- 3 Red Bell Pepper
- 3 Tomatoes Plum
- 2 Scotch bonnet
- 1 Onion Diced
Instructions
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Heat the cooking oil in a large pan. When the oil is hot, add the diced onions and cook for about 3 to 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft.
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Next, add the tomato paste and fry for about 5 minutes. Then add the garlic, ginger, and bay leaves and let it cook in the tomato paste for about 2 minutes.
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Add the blended pepper and allow the pepper to cook until the water is reduced entirely and the oil is seen floating on the fried pepper—about 15 minutes.
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Season with thyme, curry powder, salt to taste, white pepper, and seasoning cubes. Cook for another 2 to 5 minutes.
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Stir the rice into the sauce until it is well coated. Then add the chicken stock, stir, and cover with a tight-fitting lid, and then bring to a boil over high heat.
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Once it begins to boil—after about 3 to 5 minutes, reduce the heat immediately to medium-low and steam until the rice is done—about 30 minutes.
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Add the butter, sliced tomato, and onions, stir together briefly and turn off the heat. Cover it immediately so that the heat remaining in the rice can steam up the vegetables a little.
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Serve with sweet fried plantains, roasted chicken, or salad.
Have a Blast Fireworks
This is what my children are looking forward to the most. They love fireworks and sparklers. But there are some concerns with children, safety and fireworks. Leave the lighting to the adults and let the children sit back and enjoy! Be sure to only use legal fireworks and always be mindful of veterans and pets in your community.
Happy Juneteenth! How are you celebrating this year? Share your ideas with our readers.
