JUNETEENTH FREEDOM DAY
How History Points to the Importance of Inclusion
June 19th, 1865 – two months after the Civil War ended and more that two years after the Emancipation Proclamation – Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas (the westernmost Confederate state) and announced that freedom was the right of every man, woman, and child in the United States. In that moment, two years after that right was finally granted to them by law, the people of Texas who were enslaved were notified of their liberation. Though liberty, freedom, dignity, and independence have never been instantaneous, but rather a long and difficult journey, Juneteenth marks the celebration that justice is possible and freedom is a “inalienable right” for all Americans.
Black and Brown Americans have made invaluable contributions to the foundation and evolution of this country, and in our very own community here in Santa Monica & Venice. To celebrate Juneteenth, we are lifting up resources, stories, and community gatherings to celebrate the Black Americans who have shaped our community.
To learn more about the legacy of Juneteenth, we invite you to check out this article from the National Museum of African American History & Culture!
Santa Monica Juneteenth Celebrations
This weekend, there are many events happening here on the coast and all over Los Angeles County.
- Santa Monica Inaugural Juneteenth Gathering | Reed Park
- Friday, June 19th, 2026 | 4:00pm – 8:00pm
- Live music and DJ sets
- Art workshop
- Special film screening of “BLKNWS: Terms & Conditions”
- Learn more here!
- Juneteenth Poetry Reading | Beyond Baroque in Venice
- Friday, June 19th, 2026 | 7:00pm
- This Juneteenth Poetry Reading is a celebration for Chamorrita Song by Danielle P. Williams and Audrey Shipp’s new collection Poetry /Poes´ía/ Poésie in AfroDiaspora.
- The poets will be joined in The Wanda Coleman Theater by guests Maestro Gamin, Nicole J. Evans, and Naomi Nightingale.
- Reception and book signings to follow in the Scott Wannberg Bookstore & Lounge.
- More info can be found at this link. Reserve your ticket here!
- Santa Monica 34th Annual Juneteenth Celebration | Virginia Park
- Saturday, June 20th, 2026 | 1:00pm – 7:00pm
- Live music, including an interactive drum workshop, soul, funk, and jazz performances
- Community resource booths
- Food trucks
- Black-owned small businesses & vendors
- Art activities for all ages
- Learn more here!
- For more Los Angeles County events, click here!
Food & Family Exhibit | Santa Monica History Museum
Check out the Quinn Gallery Exhibition from our friends & neighbors at the Santa Monica History Museum and explore the intercultural traditions in Santa Monica.
“Food & Family traces the impact of the Great Migration and global immigration on Santa Monica’s culinary landscape. Through the lens of shared meals, recipes, and community gatherings, the exhibition examines how food fosters a sense of belonging, connection, and cultural continuity.”
The exhibit features photos, oral histories, cookbooks, and more that help paint a picture of how the ritual of food defined home and identity for generations of Santa Monicans. To learn more about the exhibit, click here!
Explore the Broadway Neighborhood with Snapchat
Have you heard of the Broadway Neighborhood? In the mid-20th century, Santa Monica’s Broadway neighborhood was a thriving, tight-knit community. Built by African American, Mexican American, and immigrant communities, the Broadway neighborhood was a haven for those who were excluded from other parts of the city by racist and anti-immigrant policies and practices. Torn apart by construction of the 10 Santa Monica freeway, you may now explore a portion of this vibrant community.
The Santa Monica History Museum partnered with Snapchat to develop an augmented-reality tour showcasing the Broadway neighborhood. The tour lets visitors experience the seamless merging of digital information with the physical world, offering an immersive experience.
To take the Broadway Neighborhood AR Tour, please click here!
Learn about the Belmar Triangle | Santa Monica Conservancy
Another historical neighborhood in Santa Monica is the Belmar District, a neighborhood that was settled by Black Americans on the south side of Santa Monica. “These Santa Monica neighborhoods were home to the oldest African American settlement in any seaside community in the region. Located just blocks from Bay Street Beach, Black residents could enjoy themselves with minimal racial harassment.”
Lost to urban renewal, the African American community was displaced to may way for the city’s Civic Center, Auditorium, and a courthouse. “The City burned down homes and businesses both rented and owned by African Americans and other marginalized groups.” The legacy and devastation of the Belmar neighborhood was commemorated in a 2019 project of the City, “Belmar History + Art Exhibit,” a public art project that stood up sculptures to honor the shotgun houses that could be found in the original neighborhoods.
To learn more about the vibrant Belmar Triangle community, please visit the Santa Monica Conservancy’s article here!
Learn About Inkwell Beach
“The Inkwell” refers to a stretch of beach in south Santa Monica, spanning Pico to Bicknell. The beach was named “Inkwell” by Anglo Santa Monicans, as it served as a popular beach for African Americans, bordering the historical Belmar neighborhood. Though the name was intended to be derogatory, “African Americans in Southern California, like their counterparts elsewhere, transformed the hateful moniker into a badge of pride.”
Inkwell’s unique location, close to the historic Black neighborhoods in Santa Monica, provided a stretch of beach that African Americans could enjoy the beautiful ocean without overly hostile discrimination. Inkwell Beach was commemorated in 2008 for it’s significance to the Black community’s access to sun and surf with a monument located at Bay Street & Oceanfront Walk.
To learn more about Inkwell Beach, read this article by Dr. Alison Rose Jefferson.
How Juneteenth Reminds Us the Importance of Inclusion
The YMCA was founded on principles that call us to find the humanity in one another, treating all of our fellow man with caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility. Our mission is to help our neighbors reach their fullest potential in spirit, mind, and body – with dignity. At the YMCA, Juneteenth is a reminder of what Dr. Maya Angelou once said, “No one of us can be free until everyone is free.”
We know that the promise of “liberty and justice for all” is an ideal, and one we must all strive to create for our fellow man. At the Y, we work to ensure our programs and services are accessible and equitable, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to be, become, and belong. Our commitment is to ensure our neighbors are never turned away when they are in need, and we are resolved to work together with our community and partners to meet those needs.
Desmond Tutu, an South African, Archbishop, and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, helped to lead an end to the apartheid in South Africa. Tutu dedicated his life to fight systemic racism.
Tutu once said, “I am human because you are human. My humanity is caught up in yours. And if you are dehumanized, I am dehumanized. And anger and resentment and retribution are corrosive of this great good, the harmony that has got to exist between people.”
These words call on us to see the humanity of one another and come together in community. This Juneteenth, we are reflecting on this sentiment, on the contributions of Black Americans, and how we can collectively imagine a better, more inclusive tomorrow. Let’s Rise & Thrive, Together!
