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Growing up in the Fillmore, I always looked forward to the Juneteenth Festival, right in the heart of the Western Addition community.

The Black Cowboys would ride their horses through the crowd. Performers, both young and old, would discuss & re-enact the history of Juneteenth. We gorged ourselves on wonderful homemade food—including that delicious barbecue—which didn’t just fill the belly, it fed the soul.

And folks would sell all manner of handmade items celebrating the Black community and illustrating our culture and experience.

Yes, Juneteenth has always been a special time for me, as an African American woman – this tradition, here in my own neighborhood, celebrating my people WITH my people … it made me feel part of something larger than myself, and it made me feel valued.

It wasn’t just about the celebration. Juneteenth has always been so much more than a festival – it’s a reminder of our history, a reminder of the bonds of slavery, of our long struggle for equality.

And it’s a reminder that, despite our progress, we continue to face so many challenges. There are still so many barriers to equality, to equity and to justice.