Why we need a Juneteenth holiday

This holiday provides Americans with an opportunity to look at history from the point of view of the oppressed.

Last year, Juneteenth came to Berlin, Germany. On June 19, about 100 people gathered at the Bethanien – a former hospital in the Berlin district of Kreuzberg that has since the 1970s served as a hub for artists and a presentation platform for contemporary art – to commemorate the emancipation of African American slaves. Given Bethanien’s long history as a hub of progressive politics, it was a fitting place for people to celebrate Black American liberation. Organised by an African American woman living in Berlin, the day-long celebration consisted of people singing hymns, reading poetry, and even performing drag. Although our bodies were shivering from the chilly weather and rains that poured intermittently throughout the day, our spirits were warm from the outpour of love.