Watching Juneteenth be adopted as a holiday en masse and stripped of its very specific regional history in real time is really interesting...

One of the central questions I'm always asking with my work is 'who gets to be complicated?'

I think Black culture and foodways in particular are lumped together instead of being seen as individual threads of regional differences, specific family traditions/influences, etc.

I think that's true of Juneteenth as well. Black families have many different relationships to this holiday that I'd like to see explored a bit more.

Black people are not a monolith and the food on our tables and the way we celebrate depends on location, history & traditions

Those foods and traditions are also dependent on access and privilege.

All of that to say, there are so many stories waiting to be told/uncovered about this holiday and celebrations of emancipation. I like that publications have dedicated space to this topic this year and I think there's so much more to be said.