Juneteenth is a celebratory holiday for Black Americans. Even though I’m Haitian, my ancestors were also once enslaved. In the same way we celebrate January 1st, 1804 as our Haitian Independence Day, I’ll be celebrating June 19th, 1865 as the day that the last of those in bondage within the United States were claimed their freedom. The 13th Amendment came with issues of its own, but that’s a discussion for another day.
This list does not include anti-racism resources or the pain and suffering that black folk have endured. For Juneteenth, I’d like to bring some focus to Black Joy and stories that don’t center police brutality. This isn’t in any particular order and it includes a wide range of genres. Black people are not a monolith.
So, check out these shows and movies that make for a joyful Juneteenth watchlist:
