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8 Different Ways You Can Celebrate Juneteenth This Year

If you've never celebrated the holiday, why not start now?

Rana Mitchell

Jun 17, 2020

University of Kentucky

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8 Different Ways You Can Celebrate Juneteenth This Year

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Juneteenth is a celebration of the emancipation of enslaved Africans. The holiday originated on June 19th, 1865 in Texas. The Major General of the Union Army arrived in Texas and announced the emancipation of slaves. The formerly enslaved Africans decided to create a holiday in celebration. The holiday is now widely recognized and celebrated by African Americans throughout the United States. Here is a list of ways you can celebrate this year!

Learning The History

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Knowledge is power. Learning should be a lifelong process. There are thousands or articles, videos, and even tweets that can provide valuable information and historical facts about Juneteenth. Celebrate this year by informing yourself, family, and friends about the significance of the holiday.

Make Soul Food

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Who doesn't love eating? Food brings people together. It has been the center of many cultures for centuries, but especially in the African American community. In honor of the holiday, find some traditional soul food recipes online and try the dishes if you haven't before. Many of the recipes helped enslaved Africans survive in some of the hardest times throughout history and these recipes have been passed down from generation to generation.

Attend A Black Lives Matter March

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So many things are happening right now in America. The most obvious is the police brutality that black and brown people are fighting against from coast to coast. With the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless other innocent black men, women, and children, people are fighting back through peaceful protests. Find one in your area and attend if you can. Wear a mask, paint a sign, go with friends and support the movement because black lives matter.

Support Black Businesses

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There are thousands of black businesses you can support this Juneteenth. From restaurants to clothing brands, the possibilities are truly endless. I recently wrote an article highlighting 5 that I have supported in the past, but with a simple google search so many more will be at your fingertips.

Stream Black Music

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Black artists have been the backbone of many of today's popular music genres such as rock, jazz, hiphop, and R&B just to name a few. Stream black music because black creatives matter. Discover new artists by exploring the browse taps on your streaming platforms this holiday.

Stream Black Movies & Tv Shows

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Though there is a growing rate of African American representation in the film and tv industries, there could always be more diversity. In celebration of the shows that do exist, celebrate by streaming them on platforms such as Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. Some of my favorites are Greenleaf, ATL, and Love & Basketball. I hope you discover a new favorite show or movie featuring black artists this year.

Host A Black Art Paint & Sip

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Many black artists have been selling paint & sip packages online since the pandemic started. If you're feeling creative this year, order one to support a black artist and host a fun event for you and your friends. You can also find inspiration on Pinterest and other places online if you'd prefer to do it DIY style.

Donate & Sign Petitions To Organizations In Support of Black Lives

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Since the beginning of the recent wave of Black Lives Matter protests and marches, a list of ways to donate has been created and can be found here. If you are unable to donate to an organization, sign petitions and stream different YouTube videos as many creators of sending 100% of their earnings to similar organizations.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Essex County, NJ

Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

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Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

University of Dayton

1551

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

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Student Life

26 Things to Thank Our Roommates For

Who knows where we would be without them.

Michigan State University

1059

StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

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Entertainment

Disney magic for New Year!

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Butler University

7037

Disney magic kingdom castle on new years

StableDiffusion

Disney movies are well known and very popular in today's world. Although many people appreciate the plot and the storyline, not many people appreciate the wisdom these characters possess. Every Disney movie has unique advice that can be applied to everyday life. Here are 11 Disney quotes to help start your New Year off right:

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Recommended for you

8 Different Ways You Can Celebrate Juneteenth This Year

If you've never celebrated the holiday, why not start now?

Learning The History

Make Soul Food

Attend A Black Lives Matter March

Support Black Businesses

Stream Black Music

Stream Black Movies & Tv Shows

Host A Black Art Paint & Sip

Donate & Sign Petitions To Organizations In Support of Black Lives

Subscribe to our Newsletter

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Phase One: The “I got this” phase

Phase Two: The “I have time” phase

Phase Three: The uncontrollable sobbing phase

Phase Four: The “help me, I've fallen and I can't get up” phase

Phase Five: The rejoicing phase

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

Who knows where we would be without them.

1. Thank you for laughing at my jokes, even when they really aren’t funny.

2. Thank you for singing unbearably loud with me all the time.

3. Thank you for letting me vent to you for hours about anything and basically being my personal therapist.

4. Thank you for ordering pizza with me at 2 in the morning.

5. Thank you for all the movie days when we don’t feel like moving.

6. Thank you for being my workout buddy everyday.

7. Thank you for sharing your closets with me.

8. Thank you for taking naps with me at random hours during the day.

9. Thank you for cleaning our home with me when we absolutely need to.

10. Thank you for all the rides when it’s late and you don’t want me to walk home alone in the dark.

11. Thank you for studying with me in our kitchen when we didn't want to go the library.

12. Thank you for making dinner with me.

13. Thank you for helping with my hair, makeup and outfit every time we go out.

14. Thank you for taking countless ugly pictures with me.

15. Thank you for not judging me when I go too long without showering.

16. Thank you for making our apartment feel like a second home.

17. Thank you for being there through all of our boy troubles.

18. Thank you for giving me a hug when I feel homesick.

19. Thank you for getting excited with me when one of us gets a good grade on an exam.

20. Thank you for still being my friend and not judging me when I say or do dumb things.

21. Thank you for telling me what I should do when I am sick.

22. Thank you for dancing horribly with me everywhere we go.

23. Thank you for staying up super late with me when we aren’t tired or can’t sleep.

24. Thank you for being super weird with me.

25. Thank you for all the unforgettable college memories.

26. And most of all, thank you for being the best friends a girl could have.

I may or may not be stressing right now.

1. "What do I have to study for?"

2. "What class do I need to study for the most?"

3. "I’m going to ace this."

4. "Focus!"

5."I have no idea what I'm reading."

6. "I should call my smart friend about this."

7. "I’m going to fail. I’m going to fail."

8. "I’m dropping out of school."

9. "What grade do I have to get on the final to pass the class?"

10. "Oh, no, I have to do good."

11. "I shouldn’t have procrastinated all semester."

12. "I wanna go to bed."

13. "We did not learn this!"

14. "I should go get food."

15. "Why do we even have finals?"

16. "I don’t want to be at the library."

17. "Get off your phone."

18. "I can watch Netflix for like 20 minutes and then go back to studying."

19. "I shouldn’t have watched Netflix."

20. "You have to study now!"

The "Happiest Place on Earth" has a lot of characters with some pretty great advice.

Remember you’re the one who can fill the world with sunshine. — Snow White

The past can hurt. But the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it. — Rafiki

You don't have time to be timid. You must be bold and daring. — Lumière

If watching is all you're gonna do, then you're gonna watch your life go by without ya. — Laverne

Sometimes the right path is not the easiest one. — Grandmother Willow

Always let your conscience be your guide. — Jiminy Cricket

To infinity and beyond. — Buzz Lightyear

Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved. — Pooh

Let it go. — Elsa

If you can't say something nice, don't say nothin' at all. — Thumper

Today's special moments are tomorrow's memories. — Genie

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