Juneteenth with You

Juneteenth with You

Celebrating on Purpose

There’s nothing quite like alignment and intention. Someone asked if I was participating in any sort of celebration, party, or cookout today. In all honesty, the past several days has my heart just so full that I haven’t stopped celebrating.

Photo by Maney Imagination on Unsplash

I mean the ultimate underdog scenario played out with the Knicks in Five win on Saturday, uniting New Yorkers and Knicks Fans worldwide in rapturous celebration. Then on Sunday, my family gathered to witness my brother baptize his two young children. It was beyond special because it was also my brother’s birthday. So much more to that story, but I’ll share more about that in a later post. I know my parents and grandparents were smiling down on us all.

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

Then, the intentional, inclusive excellence and grandeur of the Obama Presidential Center was just the cherry on top! Honoring the people and community that nurtured Michelle Robinson into a magnificently grounded scholar, lawyer, and perfect partner for a brilliant young community organizer with a funny name and a heart for people. Did you see Mrs. Obama’s skirt in tribute to her wonderful mom? Whew!

Image from The Obama Foundation

While there are those who are debating the look of the main building on the nearly 20 acre Obama campus, I can’t help but see the “Obamalisk” as reminiscent of the black futuristic excellence of Wakanda! Every facet of the campus is intentionally crafted and designed to invite and support the community around it. It’s an homage to the good ground Chicago’s southside crafted, pruned, and cultivated. It is a wonder to behold.

Image from The Obama Foundation

The timing of the opening is marvelous as well. The campus opens to the public on Juneteenth-Freedom Day. I love this! Can’t wait to go and visit myself and I would love to take a group of students with me.

Image from iHeart.com

Mrs. Obama famously said, “When they go low, we go HIGH!” As a couple, the two of them shine so bright that it is impossible for anyone to dim their light. They have been very intentional about coaching, preparing, and inspiring new generations of leaders and dreamers of all backgrounds and it is beautiful to witness!

I also want to shout out President Obama’s choice of this location. While he acknowledges his political start in Chi-town, he could have placed his center in Hawaii where he was born. His love and respect for his wife and partner Michelle is, in my observation, his love letter to her and her family, and influenced this choice of location as much as anything.

So, I’m definitely celebrating! This social studies teacher understands and appreciates the significance and scale of this moment in history. The impact this intentional set of actions will have on generations, in the face of so much hate and chaos in our present world is uplifting. Just look at us shining! Look at the beauty, the excellence, the freedom borne in the hearts of those who have lived through this era in history and who must take on the mantle of future leadership.

Jesse Jackson said “Keep Hope Alive”, and always reminded us that “I AM somebody”! John Lewis urged us to step out of our comfort zones and “Get in Good Trouble!” Michelle Obama reminded us that life is a journey; a process of continuous “Becoming”, and her Prince of a husband showed us all that, “Yes, We Can!”

Our ancestors are proud today. Our work is not done, but this moment- this month of Juneteenth moments is epic! I’m Godly proud of how far we’ve come and how resolved we are to keep pushing forward.

Take it all in and let’s sing aloud with Stevie Wonder:

Lovers keep on lovin’

Believers keep on believin’,

Sleepers just stop sleepin’

‘Cause it won’t be too long….

Till we reach our Higher Ground!

Images from Canva

Happy Juneteenth, everybody!

Copyright 2026 ~Joy Yvette~ All Rights Reserved