Opinion: Juneteenth in Alaska is more than a holiday — it’s a call to action

On June 19, with some communities celebrating the weekend before as well, communities across Alaska will gather to celebrate Juneteenth, a day that marks the end of slavery in the United States. While many recognize it as a federal holiday, what is often overlooked is the rich and resilient journey of Juneteenth right here in Alaska — and the critical importance of continuing to uplift Black history and marginalized voices in our state.

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, the day when black and white Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform enslaved African Americans that they were free — more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Though freedom had been declared, it had not been delivered. That moment, delayed though it was, signified a turning point in American history.

In Alaska, the journey of Juneteenth is woven through the perseverance of Black Alaskans who have fought for visibility, justice and community since the early 20th century. From the military families stationed here during World War II to civil rights activists who established local NAACP chapters and cultural festivals, Alaska’s Black communities have worked to ensure that Juneteenth is not just a date on the calendar, but a living, breathing reminder of the ongoing struggle for equity and recognition.

Today, Juneteenth is officially recognized as a city, state, and federal holiday — a victory won through decades of advocacy, organizing, and education on the national and local level. Yet this recognition is not the finish line. It is a call to action.

In honoring Juneteenth, we must do more than celebrate — we must educate, advocate, and protect. We must stand up for Black history in our schools, in our public institutions and in our collective memory. We must acknowledge that the struggles of the past persist in the inequalities of today — from education, healthcare and housing disparities to systemic racism and underrepresentation in leadership.

Now is the time to speak out — clearly and consistently — against all forms of injustice. Silence is not neutrality; it is complicity. And injustice cannot be fought from the sidelines. We have a shared responsibility — as neighbors, educators, leaders and citizens — to ensure that the full truth of our history is told, and that our future is one where equity is not just promised, but practiced.

Let us remember that Juneteenth honors the generations who endured the unimaginable, who built this country with their hands and their hope, often without recognition. We owe it to them — and to each other — to keep the spirit of Juneteenth alive not just with celebration, but with continued action.

This Juneteenth, let us gather in joy, but also in purpose. Let us commit to listening, learning and lifting up every voice that has too long been ignored. Let us promise to preserve the stories and contributions of Black Alaskans and ensure that every child knows their heritage is one of strength and resilience and did not begin with slavery.

Because the fight for justice is not over — and we all have a role to play. I encourage our policy makers, community, business and nonprofit leaders to all answer the question: what will my legacy be in terms of ensuring the next generation is left in a better position than the one from which they came?

To do this, it starts with a sense of self and never forgetting who we are, where we came from and what we have overcome, standing up and celebrating Juneteenth.

Jasmin Smith of Anchorage is Alaska chair of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation and coordinator of the Juneteenth Anchorage Citywide Celebration.

Anchorage’s Juneteenth celebration includes events downtown on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15. More info and a schedule of events here.

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