Seward Community Co-op

About Juneteenth

Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration honoring the emancipation of slavery in the United States. President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was issued January 1, 1863. Communications of the Emancipation Proclamation and the Civil War’s end was slow to reach everyone across the United States. On June 19, 1865 the news of the emancipation of slavery finally reached the remaining enslaved Africans in Galveston, Texas. Juneteenth celebrates the official emancipation of slavery and marks the belated liberation of Black people in America.

For many, Juneteenth is also seen as a representation of the ways in which the liberation of Black people in America has been delayed by ongoing systemic oppression. The holiday may prompt communities to consider promises of freedom not yet fully realized for Black people in the United States.

As a consumer-owned cooperative with equity and inclusion as core values we recognize that there is more work to be done within our co-op, communities and country. In the midst of the fight for true liberation of Black bodies, Seward Co-op stands with community in calling for justice and calling for peace.

Literature on Juneteenth

Continue learning with any of these staff recommended readings. Books can be a powerful tool for learning and connection. The following staff recommendations includes poetry, children’s books and adult non-fiction. Consider picking up a copy from a neighborhood library, local bookstore or supporting any number of online Black-owned bookstores.

Juneteenth Celebration

Across the country, from the late nineteenth century through today, Juneteenth celebrations have often included parades, community events, and  barbecues. This year, during the global pandemic, Juneteenth celebrations may look different as we navigate how to gather safely with community. At the co-op, we see Juneteenth as a perfect opportunity to celebrate African-American food traditions and influential – though all-to-often overlooked– chefs like Edna Lewis.

Edna grew up in Freetown, Virginia – a community founded by emancipated enslaved individuals – where neighbors worked cooperatively toward self-sufficiency. Her mother passed on the family’s cultural heritage by teaching Lewis to cook. Though, Lewis went onto publish four cookbooks in an era of celebrity chefs, she was never acknowledged until after her death for her contributions to the farm-to-table movement. In one of her most notable books, The Taste of Country Cooking, Lewis graciously takes readers on a year-long culinary adventure that highlights the seasonal dishes from her rural upbringing that were enjoyed by many during Emancipation Day, Revival Day and Juneteenth celebrations.

However, you decide to  celebrate – whether that’s firing up the grill at home with those in your household or enjoying a shared menu plan with distant friends – Seward Co-op has a number of items to supplement celebratory meals.

Save on Several Staples and Items from Community Foods Producers