Over 160 years ago, a historic announcement in Galveston, Texas, informed the last enslaved African Americans that they were finally free. That day — June 19, 1865 — ended legal enslavement and started the beginning of a new fight: the struggle to protect, define, and express Black humanity. Fast-forward to today, and those exact themes are vividly alive at Atlanta’s High Museum. This Juneteenth, the High Museum didn’t just display art; it hosted a reclamation.
Walking through the exhibits was not only immersive but also captivating. The energy was high, and the entire atmosphere was uplifting. Some activities included zine-making, which offered space for self-expression and empowering reflection, as well as a poetry reading by accomplished multidisciplinary artist Adán Bean.
Not only were there several engaging activities, but the High even hosted a party in the center of the entire museum. “My favorite part was the tambor party in the Robinson atrium.” Christian-Anthony Beckley, a 22-year-old, noted. “It’s really beautiful to see everyone expressing their culture. I’m from Memphis, so I see black culture a lot, but being in Atlanta and seeing this is different because it’s a lot of different expressions here, and it’s really cool.”
Led by DJ Stan Zeff, this activation transformed the room into a sequence similar to “Sinners” famous Juke Joint scene. Many of the performers donned traditional African attire, while others danced in vibrant colors including black, red, yellow, and green. These shades stem from the Pan-African flag, which symbolizes unity among people of African descent worldwide.
“It’s a big cultural gathering of all African-American cultures- Black American, Afro-American, Caribbean, South African; it’s pretty beautiful [and] it’s a blending pot,” Beckley emphasized.
This high energy continued to flow through the art exhibits, where many of the creations felt like a living conversation with the ancestors. It showed that there was no single way to express Blackness: where one exhibit featured vibrant textures and bold colors, another would juxtapose them by favoring more muted tones.
One of the most compelling exhibits the High currently offers is “Amy Sherald: American Sublime.”
“It was really, really good stuff.” Imari K. Welcher, a junior at Morehouse College, noted. “I think the most interesting thing that I saw was that the reason she does grayscale is to make it racially ambiguous.”
“But it is implied, though, purely by looking at it and understanding the context, that they’re black people, but it mostly captures the idea of the black experience. So anybody can find something that they resonate with and have something to say about it.” Welcher said.
Other exciting pieces the High had to offer included artwork from the Impressionism and Renaissance eras as well as various European creations. In the synopsis of her visit, Joi Grene, an 18-year-old, highlighted how much she enjoyed the 18th-century artworks. “I’ve been to the High Museum multiple times before. I really liked the different paintings, and my favorite thing was probably the statues that they have there, how they carved the hair and all the different facial features and reading the history behind the artworks.”
This Juneteenth, the High truly had something to offer everyone. Whether you came to celebrate everything Black culture, appreciate the glamorous art exhibits, or to simply get out of the house, everyone’s spirits were lifted. “It’s Black People Day. It’s the first nationally recognized holiday for Black people.” Grene noted, when asked why, that celebrating Juneteenth is so important. “I think that’s why it’s so important for me to celebrate and be out here to show ‘Hey this really does mean something to us,’ y’know?”
Not only does Juneteenth show how liberating it is to express your culture, but it also highlights the historical legacy and the value of never giving up hope in uncertain times. “It’s important to know when our people were actually freed, all of our people, and if you’re Black, you should celebrate it,”
Beckley emphasized. “Just as much as we celebrate July 4th, just as much as we learn about American history, African-American history is American history, and it’s important to have this emphasis and to keep fighting for yourself.”
