Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation all enslaved people were made aware of their liberation. As much as Juneteenth celebrates freedom, it’s also an avenue for people to celebrate African-American culture and traditions and an opportunity to reflect on how we, as a society, can move forward.
In the spirit of recognizing Juneteenth, the National Collaborative for Women’s History Sites wants to lift up recently published articles on the contributions of Black women to history. The New York Times published an article at the end of April, “The Six Triple Eight: Black, Female Soldiers Honored for World War II Success.” It highlights the only all-Black, all-female Army battalion to serve in Europe during World War II being awarded Congress’s highest honor in April 2025, in a celebration of the type of diversity that has come under assault by the Trump administration. If you don’t have a subscription to the Times, there is also this list of Black feminists published by MSN, “Forgotten Black Feminists Who Fought for More Than Just Votes.”
For subscribers living in, or traveling to, Maine or Illinois there have been some wonderful highlights of activities honoring the contributions of Black women. A walking tour in Bangor honors Black leaders, women’s suffrage advocates “Maine is full of history. But one piece that often goes unrecognized is the role Black Americans and civil rights leaders played in building the state we know today. A walking tour led by Black Travel Maine is bringing that history to life step by step through the streets of Bangor.” In Chicago, an opera about women in the civil rights movement has opened titled ‘She Who Dared.’
And for us homebodies looking for a new read, A’Lelia Bundles’ new book ‘Joy Goddess’ is out now. Read an interview with A’Lelia in this Ms. Magazine article, “A’Lelia Bundles Claims Family History and Black Cultural Legacies With New Book ‘Joy Goddess.’” If you’re interested in reading the book in full, we suggest looking at an independent retailer, as many big box stores have shelved their DEI initiatives. This Good Housekeeping list includes Black owned bookstores.
As allies and sisters in the resistance, keep the fight strong! And remember Black joy and respite is a part of the resistance in today’s culture.