Commemorating Juneteenth

Today is a very important day in history and we’re taking a moment on the Currey & Company blog to acknowledge it by commemorating Juneteenth. Not only does our home state of Georgia recognize the consequential date, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law in 2021, making Juneteenth a federal holiday that is meant to inspire everyone to reflect on our nation’s history, commemorate emancipation, and look towards the future impact of Black culture and community. As our own way of honoring the day, we asked a number of people in our design-industry circle to weigh in as to their thoughts about the holiday, one of whom is designer extraordinaire Beth Diana Smith, the CEO and Principal Designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, shown above.

Commemorating Juneteenth

The official handwritten record of General Order No. 3, which decreed freedom for slaves in Texas. Photo courtesy National Archives.

This image is of the official handwritten record of General Order No. 3 penned by Major F.W. Emery on behalf of Union Major General Gordon Granger, which decreed the freedoms given to Texans. For those of you who have never delved into the history of this National Holiday, it celebrates the date a group of Union troops stopped in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to inform enslaved people that the Civil War was over, the Confederacy was defeated, and enslaved people in Texas were free. Though Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, many slaveholders in the Lone Star State still refused to comply until forced to do so a full two-and-a-half years later when the last enslaved African Americans in Texas were declared free people. Juneteenth, the word an amalgamation of June and nineteenth, has been celebrated annually in Texas since, and now in other states and nationally.

A group of Juneteenth attendees enjoying a tour of Atlanta’s Oakland Cemetery. Image courtesy Oakland Cemetery.

For our fellow Atlantans, we wanted to point out that the Atlanta History Museum has some immersive programming on June 18th that includes a celebration of Father’s Day, and honors the history of Black genealogy and agricultural practices. Register here to enjoy the live music, powerful storytelling, interactive crafts, and delicious food that are on the roster, as are workshops and talks that will provide valuable insights into the history of Juneteenth, and offer tips on how to research family trees and preserve family artifacts. On June 17th, Atlanta’s historic Oakland Cemetery will hold their Juneteenth celebration—one of last year’s tours illustrated in the image above. Beyond guided walks along the aged-stone paths, strains of lively music and aromas from food trucks will be wafting through the air. Their events are free but signing up is required. You may even spy some of our pieces of faux bois tucked into the cemetery’s gorgeous grounds.

Design Industry Leaders Share Their Thoughts

Catherine Roper, Currey & Company’s Business Development Manager.

Catherine Roper, our Business Development Manager, says she believes it was vitally important for Juneteenth to be recognized beyond the borders of the state of Texas. “I was happy to learn that other state and federal officials chose to commemorate Juneteenth because this is a major milestone in American History and Black History,” she explains. “It is a celebration of freedom and progress. Our ancestors would be proud. I love the quote from Maya Angelou, ‘Won’t it be wonderful when Black History and Native History and Jewish History and all of US history is taught in one book. Just US history.’”

Catherine adds, “Our family doesn’t celebrate on June 19th, but we do have family reunions during which we acknowledge our oldest living relative and the youngest. One or two people are assigned to tell the family history when we gather. We eat, take photos and videos, play games, and enjoy all the good laughs that our interactions inspire.” About how she sees the holiday impacting future generations of African Americans, she says, “The holiday is a reminder of our ancestors from which we came. There is still so much change needed to create diversity and inclusion. If nothing else, future generations should continue to honor those who survived slavery.”

Courtney McLeod, Principal, Right Meets Left Interior Design.

Courtney McLeod, the Principal of Right Meets Left Interior Design, says, “I think it is important to recognize a critical juncture in our history and an important step toward a true democracy in the United States.” About celebrating the historic date, she says, “While I grew up in the deep south (New Orleans), it wasn’t a family tradition to celebrate Juneteenth. I do enjoy taking time that day to read and learn more about African American history.” Courtney sees the holiday impacting future generations of African Americans because, “It is an incredible disservice that our education system excludes so much of the true history of this country. Anything that can shine a light, and prompt all of us to acknowledge and learn on our own is a tremendous positive.” We asked, “Is there anything more you'd like to see done surrounding the holiday?” She answered, “I would like social studies and history studies to include more about African American history. I hope acknowledging Juneteenth as a holiday prompts schools to include more as part of their curriculum.”

Kinshasa Floyd, Currey & Company Representative: Territory Sales for Illinois and Wisconsin.

Kinshasa Floyd, one of our dynamic representatives who holds the title of Territory Sales for Illinois and Wisconsin, says it is critically consequential to acknowledge the date: “I think choosing to commemorate Juneteenth is important because the emancipation of Black enslaved people is major pivotal moment in American history. It’s a moment that has significantly changed the trajectory of our country. Growing up in Illinois, I did not celebrate Juneteenth but I do now. My favorite thing to do on this day is immerse myself in Black culture. This includes flavorful food, art galleries, curated events, and great music. I love living in Chicago because it’s incredibly easy to support many Black-owned businesses.” About how she sees the holiday benefitting those who are growing up now, she notes, “I definitely see Juneteenth as positively impacting future generations of African Americans. By establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, it compels all Americans to educate ourselves—if we know our history, then we are able to make wiser decisions for the future.” Kinshasa adds, “I’d like to see more cities and towns hosting festivals, parades, and fireworks, thus giving Juneteenth as much importance as Independence Day in the United States.”

Beth Diana Smith, CEO + Principal Designer, Beth Diana Smith Interior Design.

Beth Diana Smith, the CEO and Principal Designer of Beth Diana Smith Interior Design, agrees that the holiday is a positive step: “Celebrating Juneteenth isn’t a nice-to-have, it’s a must-have across all states. Because of the Emancipation Proclamation, slavery should have ended but Texas was Confederate-controlled so the Black people were still enslaved. Juneteenth represents the date that the Union troops arrived in Texas to announce their freedom, more than two years after they should already have been free. One slave is one too many, and I think freedom could not have truly existed until everyone was in fact free.” Beth’s commemoration of the holiday includes personal and interpersonal care. “On Juneteenth I celebrate by loving on myself and the Black people around me, and by reveling in the sheer joy and freedom we have to do as we please,” she explains; “I also take time to honor those ancestors who were not able to do as they pleased, as well as those who made our current freedoms possible. Juneteenth is a holiday that should not only have purposeful growth in its celebrations, but should have specific education surrounding it so that the understanding around why it exists does not get lost through the years.”

Antonio Fuller, Currey & Company Receiving Manager/Warehouse Inventory Control.

Antonio Fuller, our Receiving Manager and eagle eye in our Warehouse Inventory Control, believes the holiday being adopted nationally was a big step. “I think it is important because it acknowledges that it is a pivotal date in our nation’s history,” he explains. His on-the-go lifestyle leaves little room for commemorations, he says, adding, “I don’t even celebrate my birthday! I am so consumed with living life, I live in the moment and every day is a new day so one seems to roll right into the other!” About how he believes this holiday will benefit future generations of African Americans, he notes, “I see it impacting them because now that the date has been recognized, I think worldwide it brings attention to and lets African Americans know what has happened during significant times in American history.”

He adds, “When you look around the world, you see Brazilians and other cultures overcome such trying times; and we Americans can recognize it in our own country. Black Americans have gone through so much and have had to learn what it means to be honored. Juneteenth marks a point from which it is my hope that all American people will finally strive to see everyone as equal, to see everyone as the same.” We asked Antonio, “Is there anything more you'd like to see done surrounding the holiday?” He answered, “I would like to see the date become a starting point for the recognition of more important dates in American history—not only for African Americans but for other nationalities. I’m so pro-acknowledging everyone’s contributions and so many different people are going through different hardships as they try to earn equality. It should be the same for all of us as Americans—for future, past, and present.”

Dallas Market is Almost Here!

We’d like to thank those who took the time to share their thoughts with us. Don’t forget, Dallas Market gets underway this coming Wednesday and runs through the 27th. If you’re attending Market, be sure to stop by from June 22 through 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to scoop up a beautiful painting or drawing by Teresa Davis, aka Gigi in Paris, who will be holding a pop-up in our showroom. If you haven’t visited us in a while, you can find us in the Dallas Market Center in the Interior Home + Design Center, Suite 1D228. Hope to see you all there!