Juneteenth, celebrated this Sunday, June 19, is the commemoration of when enslaved peoples in Galveston, Texas, learned that they were freed and subsequently established an annual celebration commemorating their freedom.

The road to legal equality for all Americans – most especially Black Americans – was anything but linear. Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect on our shared history and reaffirm a deeper commitment to pursuing and perfecting racial justice in our own time. Reboot affirms that Black Lives Matter.

As our week comes to a close, we invite you to view this moving prayer by Jewish Multiracial Network in honor of Juneteenth.

There are many Juneteenth events around the country. A few online include:

• Juneteenth Kabbalat Shabbat
  June 17, 7-8 p.m. ET
  Hybrid event – Live Stream
  The Kabbalat Shabbat service centers the voices of Jews of Color and welcomes everyone of all observance levels and faiths on this Independence Day. Come celebrate Kol Hapanim (www.kolhapanim.org) and the Atlanta Jews of Color Council (www.ajocc.org) as they honor this day through a Jewish lens that African-Americans have observed for more than 150 years. It can be attended both in-person at the Distillery of Modern Art, 2197 Irvindale Drive, Atlanta, GA 30341, or through live stream. Sign up here.
• Juneteenth 2022: ART AS FREEDOM – Zoom
  June 19, 7 p.m. ET
  Join the Black Jewish Liberation Collective for the annual Juneteenth celebration. This celebration is an opportunity to deepen relationships and celebrate our freedom with our Black Family. This year’s theme, ART AS FREEDOM, invites all attendees to tap into their creative selves and honor our collective art as a practice and remembering of freedom. This event is for Black people of multiple faiths who have been in movement with Black Jews. Find out more here and sign up here.

What you can read:
Beyond the Count by The Jews of Color Initiative, detailing the perspectives and lived experiences of Jews of Color. See their website for details: https://jewsofcolorinitiative.org/

Check out organizations where you may be able to donate:

General Organizations:
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund – https://www.naacpldf.org/
Equal Justice Initiative – https://eji.org/
Color of Change – https://colorofchange.org/
Movement for Black Lives – https://m4bl.org/
Southern Poverty Law Center – https://www.splcenter.org/
Undoing Racism: The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond – https://pisab.org/

Jewish Organizations:
Not Free to Desist – https://www.notfreetodesist.org
Jewish Liberation Fund – https://www.jewishliberation.fund/
Be’chol Lashon – https://globaljews.org/
Black Jewish Liberation Collective – https://www.blackjewishliberation.org/
Bend The Arc – https://www.bendthearc.us/