Juneteenth: The Necessity and Radical Nature of Black and BIPOC Joy

Happy Juneteenth BWB Community!

There is so much happening right now that is prompting both sadness and resistance. The ICE raids, over-policing of protests, military intervention, the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and the continued systemic racism Black and Brown people experience–it’s a lot to take.

But today, we take a moment to celebrate. It is so gratifying to see the evolution of Juneteenth celebrations that have spread from its origins in Texas across country to celebrate the news of freedom for enslaved people finally reaching Galveston on June 19, 1865.

In the wake of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor’s murders and the subsequent uprisings, Juneteenth celebrations became the norm across the United States. They are celebrations of freedom and Black joy so necessary in the middle of the grief. In this particular moment, we are experiencing we need to find and cultivate these moments of joy to continue the fight. But as it's heart, joy is “just a simple moment of gratitude and happiness you allow yourself to have,” said Pittsburgh organizer and activist, Miracle Jones, in her 2021 TED Talk. She reminds us that while it’s a simple moment of joy, there’s something revolutionary in active joy:

“Joy it’s just a moment of reflection and happiness we’re able to tell ourselves. There’s more to this life, there’s more to this world than just pain. Joy is how our ancestors survived. Joy is how we know what to fight for. Joy is how we build our community. Joy is how we shall love is why we’re still here.”

And that’s what Juneteenth helps us do. It helps us take a moment in the middle of the pain of the moment to remind ourselves that we are still here and why we’re still here.

For me, Juneteenth is a powerful reminder that each of us is given a window of time to carry the baton—to lead our communities toward the freedom our ancestors dreamed of, prayed for, wept over, and died fighting for. Our time on this planet, and the blessings we hold, should never be taken for granted. We are here to carry the dream forward—the legacy of the Great Migration, the courage of our grandparents and parents—toward the dignity and liberation every one of us deserves. We will not stop until these century-old dreams are fully realized.

At Biking While Black we are dedicated to Black and BIPOC joy. We are a movement that fights for equity and investment in Black and Brown communities, but we center the joy and freedom of biking and showing that we need to invest in all communities’ bike infrastructure.

We hope you all are experiencing a day of joy this Juneteenth. Let us know what you are doing to celebrate in the comments!

What’s Happening in and around LA for Juneteenth

Thursday, June 19th:

• Juneteenth Freedom Ride – A 9, 14 or 19-mile group bike ride through L.A. starting at Leimert Park on June 19th at 8am that starts and ends at the big Juneteenth Festival. ‍

• Juneteenth Celebration at the Aquarium of the Pacific (1-2pm, Long Beach, CA) – storytelling, history, and more!

Saturday, June 21

• Empowerment Congress – Educate, Engage, Empower: Resilience in the Face of Chaos | 2025 Juneteenth Dialogue and Celebration (9am-2pm, The Beehive)

• City of West Hollywood Juneteenth Celebration (12-4pm)

• Culver City Juneteenth Celebration (1-4pm, Ivy Station)

Sunday, June 22

• Celebrate Black Joy Juneteenth Manhattan Beach at Polliwog Park (2-7pm)