When I think of home, our annual celebration of Juneteenth is one of the things that instantly comes to mind.

The Queen City of New York State is home to some of the best food in America (this is not a debate), beautiful summer festivals, and over the past 49 years has amassed one of the of the largest Juneteenth celebrations in the nation.

There is not a year that’s passed where my family has not gathered to support one another and our community; watching as my Aunt’s Drill team performed down Genesee Street, my brother promote his mentoring group working with young boys and men of color, or most recently me as I strolled with my Sorors and other members of the Divine 9.

As a kid it was and continues to be my favorite of all the Buffalo festivals. Reflecting and honing in on the fruits of our collective labor to remain and be in community with one another, to enrich our lives, continue circulating the Black dollar within the Black community, and create a space where all of us feel seen.

It is the epitome of ‘Black Joy being the ultimate form of resistance’, being ‘our brothers/sisters keeper’, and putting on for ourselves.

- Jesana Gadley

Juneteenth commemorates the date on which the last group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas were informed of their freedom - two years after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. When I think about 1865 in relation to me and my family, it truly isn’t that long ago.

You see, my grandmothers grandfather, born in Green County, Alabama in 1860 would’ve spent the first 5 years of his life watching the country be at war. A war which debated  whether his people deserved their freedom and if their wholeness outweighed the economic benefits the country gained from their exploitation. Between the ages of 5 and 10, he would watch the U.S. Congress pass legislation recognizing African Americans as free people, citizens of the U.S., and technically give them the right to vote.

Modern science tells us that the first 5 - 7 years of a child’s life are the most critical, building a foundation for all future learning, behavior, health, and outcomes. While I will never be able to fully grasp his life’s experiences, or know exactly the lessons he passed to his son which passed to my grandma - I do continue to carry the things she instilled in me; to know my history and family, to pursue education and be a continuous learner, and to never allow my circumstances to dictate what I am to become.

I love being Black. I love Black culture. I love Black music. I love Black creativity. I love how influential we are.

- Jesana Gadley

The story of the Black American who can trace their ancestry back to the Civil War and beyond is a testament to our ancestors survival and resistance to be consumed by what often feels like societies attempt to be rid of us. We are the survivors of people who over generations have built this country, inspired the masses, and continue to drive American culture.

We celebrate Juneteenth to honor ourselves, those who came before us, and prepare the next generation to continue carrying forward this legacy. It is the epitome of ‘Black Joy being the ultimate form of resistance’, being ‘our brothers/sisters keeper’, and putting on for ourselves.

I love being Black. I love Black culture. I love Black music. I love Black creativity. I love how influential we are. I love us on our good days and our bad. I love how unseriously serious we are. I love how it feels when we’re together. And I especially love the things that cannot be explained - you really just have to be here.

Happy Juneteenth Y’all - the true Independence Day.