Look of the Day: Juneteenth Jubilee

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Juneteenth commemorates when the last group of enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas were freed. 250,000 freed by the Union Army. While the celebration has always been popular in Texas and in parts of the South and scattered in the North, it became a federal holiday in 2021. 

In celebration of the holiday, I decided to create a look based off the official Juneteenth flag which was created by Ben Haith in 1997.





Since the holiday is Texas originated, I went with a cowgirl look hence the cowgirl hat and snakeskin cowgirl boots, both vintage of course. While I’ve disappointingly been seeing people attempt to remix the celebration to fit their own liking and agenda, from trying to Pan-Africanize it with RBG flags (people seem to think that flag is the default Black American ethnic group flag & it is not. I’ll talk about correct flag further down) to making it a day to justify their own group’s struggles, this is a Black American holiday with a focus on Texas. Galveston, Texas. In keeping traditions and culture alive, it’s important to gate keep and make sure the origins are highlighted. I often attend Caribbean events and festivals and I don’t expect them to be centered around Black American culture or make mention of it. Celebrating Juneteenth should be the same; centered on said ethnic group. 

I made the graphic t-shirt based off my own very special family history that makes me extremely proud. My second great grandfather Private John Dye was a Union soldier in the U.S. Colored Troops from 1863-1866 in the 11th Regiment. He was 23 years old when he joined and from Alabama, more than likely a runaway slave. His original recruitment paper shown on the back of my tee. 

In the illustration, he’s holding both the Juneteenth flag and the Black American Heritage flag which was created in 1967 by Melvin Charles and Gleason T. Jackson. 


Ripped jeans are always going to make an outfit pop, no need to even go on and on about that. Now the nails! I contacted Lowkeynailed it to create a pair of custom Juneteenth flag themed nails for me. I told her just do whatever you want and she created these amazing beauties! 


When history, heritage, and freedom meets fashion! Hope you enjoyed your Juneteenth. 





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