4 min read
What’s up with Juneteenth?
6/11/2026
What’s up with Juneteenth?
Have you ever been in a situation where everyone seemed to be thinking the same thing, but no one wanted to say it? For many of my white friends, I think that unspoken question is this: Why should I celebrate—or even care about—Juneteenth?
There. I said it.
It's an uncomfortable question, but discomfort is often the beginning of honest reflection. Maybe you feel disconnected from Juneteenth. Maybe you associate it with guilt or shame. Maybe you're indifferent. Or perhaps you're wondering why this event warrants a holiday when there’s already Black History Month and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It sounds ugly when you say it out loud but bringing hidden thoughts into the light is often the first step toward growth.
So I want to explain why I believe white Christians should celebrate Juneteenth.
To be clear, this is not an attempt to manufacture a cultural connection that doesn't exist. I will never experience Juneteenth in the same way many Black Americans do. But that doesn't mean I cannot connect with it at all. Nor is this simply a call to learn the history. Understanding the facts is important, but information alone rarely changes the heart. Real connection comes through shared values, shared humanity, and a genuine love for our neighbors.
At its core, Juneteenth celebrates freedom, justice, resilience, hope, community, and truth. Does that sound familiar? It sounds biblical to me. Those themes run throughout Scripture and the story of God's people.
If I had been enslaved, would I want my freedom celebrated? If I had been oppressed, would I rejoice when justice finally arrived? If I had been deceived, would I celebrate the triumph of truth? Of course I would.
As a Christian, I already do. I know what it means to be enslaved to sin. I know the longing for justice and the joy of redemption. I know what it is to believe lies about my identity and then encounter the truth of God's grace.
That does not mean I know what it was like to be bought and sold, stripped of basic human rights, or treated as less valuable than another person. This is not about claiming someone else's experience as my own. It is about finding a point of connection. Shared humanity does not require identical experiences; it requires a willingness to recognize and celebrate the good that God has done in the lives of others.
I have three young daughters. Each year, we celebrate each daughter's birthday. Without fail, the other two want to know why they aren't being celebrated too. I remind them that the day isn't about them; it's about loving and celebrating their sister.
Juneteenth is like that.
It isn't about white people, and that's okay.
Not every celebration has to center on us. In fact, there is something healthy about learning to rejoice in blessings that belong primarily to someone else. Love calls us to celebrate the victories, joys, and milestones of our neighbors without needing to insert ourselves into the story.
If you find yourself thinking, "Yes, but Juneteenth wouldn't have happened if we..." stop right there. Repeat this simple truth: It's not about me, and that's okay.
There is freedom in letting go of the need to be at the center. There is joy in celebrating others for their sake. As Christians, we are called to rejoice with those who rejoice. Juneteenth gives us an opportunity to do exactly that.
So I plan to celebrate Juneteenth this year. I plan to rejoice with my brothers and sisters of color because I love them. I’m going to share in their joy, to give thanks for God's work in both physical and spiritual deliverance, and to celebrate the triumph of freedom over oppression. I’m going to smile with them and smile watching them. I’m going to feel their joy and connect with it.
And when the day is over, I hope to walk away with a greater love for my brothers and sisters. And a deeper appreciation for the beauty of God's diverse family—a family that reflects His glory in ways far richer than any one of us could alone.
Blog by: Frank Legare
