Juneteenth celebrates the historic day of June 19th, 1865 when the final slaves in America were notified that slavery had been banned and they were free. Juneteenth is still celebrated to this day and was recently declared a statewide holiday in Maine. Traditionally, this day is commemorated with parades, books and poetry readings, enjoying red colored foods like strawberries, red soda, and hotdogs, and reflecting on African American culture and history.

“Because we strive to help all our members become positive leaders, we work to emphasize the importance of social responsibility.” Says Baba Ly, Senior Program Director at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, “Celebrating Juneteenth at the clubs teaches our members to appreciate the great cultural contributions made by Black Americans.”

At Boy and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, our members have spent the past couple of weeks decorating the clubs with their artwork and posters, reading books by black authors, and discussing the importance of this day with staff members.