Recipes to Celebrate Juneteenth

June 19 is Juneteenth—the day on which, in 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free.

On January 1, 1980, Juneteenth became an official state holiday through the efforts of Al Edwards, an African American state legislator. The successful passage of this bill marked Juneteenth as the first emancipation celebration granted official state recognition. Edwards has since actively sought to spread the observance of Juneteenth all across America.

Early festivities celebrating, Juneteenth — also known as Freedom Day — consisted of baseball, fishing, rodeos, and barbeques. Segregation prohibited African-Americans from using public facilities for celebrations so many were often held at churches or near water. As with many celebrations, sharing food was at center stage, and many of these food are red.

The red color symbolizes the struggle, perseverance, and resilience of African slaves. Red sodas, watermelon, and other red food are all popular on Juneteenth, as is BBQ and traditional soul food dishes.

Commemorate the event with your own Juneteenth picnic or cookout. Take a look and try some of the recipes below!