Alyssah Hall

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President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on September 22, 1862, freeing enslaved Black people. Over two years after the proclamation was announced, on June 19, 1865, a Union Army general went to Texas and ordered that the state’s 250,000 plus enslaved people also be set free. 

While many Black folks have historically celebrated  Juneteenth as the official day that slavery “ended”, it has only been a federal holiday for four years. Former President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act with members of Congress at the White House on June 17, 2021. 

After President Donald Trump’s inauguration in January and  his Project 2025 agenda which seeks to demolish Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives (DEI), a framework used to counteract discrimination against minorities, went into full effect. As a result, many corporations such as Target and Walmart, influenced by the president, scaled back their formerly championed DEI goals and initiatives. 

In response, many Black consumers and people of color have decided to boycott corporations that they feel don’t support them or their values.

Here are 10 ways to celebrate the Juneteenth holiday or buy from and support Black-owned businesses.

Celebrate Black Art

  1. In January 2025, California wildfires took lives and destroyed several neighborhoods and businesses, including the historically Black town of Alta Dena. The California African American Museum (CAAM) in Los Angeles debuted their “Ode to ’Dena: Black Artistic Legacies of Altadena” exhibition in April 2025. The exhibit is open until October 2025. The exhibit features artwork of the rich Black heritage in Alta Dena, a photograph by Black Voice News photojournalist Aryana Noroozi is also featured. 
  1. The Riverside Art Museum (RAAM) opened their “ECLIPSE: What’s Your Perspective?” exhibit which highlights positive Black imagery. Images were shot by IE photographers Jonathan Freemantle Arthurs and Malik Laing in April 2025. The exhibit is located in RAAM’s atrium and is open until September of 2025. Before visiting, read about the exhibit and the artists behind their Eclipse Spaces, community darkroom here.

Enjoy Culture Filled Community Spaces

  1. The City of Moreno Valley is hosting its annual Juneteenth celebration on June 21, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Civic Center Amphitheater. They will be hosting an entertaining afternoon filled with food booths,  retail vendors,  resource booths, local artists, and children’s activities. You can check out moments from last year’s celebration here.
  2. The city of Rialto is holding their “Juneteenth Jam” on June 19, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Alec Fergusson Park. They are celebrating with food, basketball, skateboarding, and other activities such as their Miss Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant and a Juneteenth cook-off. BVN photojournalist Aryana Noroozi will be there to capture it, so say hi to her if you see her!
  1. The NAACP Branch 1034 Lake Elsinore/Southwest Riverside County is having a Juneteenth Celebration on June 20, from  5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Lake Elsinore’s Diamond Stadium. The event will have live entertainment, culture, food, networking, dancing, vendors, and community empowerment. For more information or if you have any questions, contact the branch via email at  info@naacpbranch1034.org or by phone 951-292-0697.
  2. The Civil Rights Institute of Inland Southern California is organizing the “Rhythm in Action – A Celebration of Juneteenth” event on June 19, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m at their site located at 3933 Mission Inn Avenue, Ste 102 Riverside, CA 92501. They will have light refreshments, live music, a family and friends scavenger hunt, storytelling, a crafts corner, and performances highlighting the stories of local leaders from their “Homegrown Heroes” exhibition.

Visit Black-owned bookstores

  1. If you are a bibliophile or just like uplifting local spaces, you can support the Black, woman, and queer-owned bookstore Get Lit Books & Things in the Moreno Valley Mall. The bookstore has been up and running since September 2024 and offers a large colorful space for all ages and backgrounds. They have books that highlight marginalized communities, sell a multitude of items like candles, locally made jewelry, and artwork. They also give tarot readings, host book club events, story hours for children, game nights, and other workshops. Read more about the owners Ruthie and Danielle Myers-Porter who are featured in our Black Business series here. 
  1. Another Black woman-owned bookstore that you can uplift is Creating Space Books, located at 3257 Market St. #5, Riverside, California 92501. This new space is a concept bookstore that aims to be a safe space where “your inner book nerd can roam free.” They opened their store front in March 2025, with a focus on wellness and also carry many different book genres. 

Grab a bite and a vibe with a Black-owned eatery

  1. Indulge your sweet tooth by supporting this Black, woman, and family-owned business, The Cookie Jar located at 7373 East Ave, Suite F, in Fontanna. This dessert business is founded by three sisters, including Andrea known as the “Cookie Lady.” The Cookie Jar offers over 150 different homemade flavors and established a “brick and mortar” shop in Fontana in 2021. The shop offers their classic cookie flavors and rotating weekly flavors that include gluten free and vegan flavors as well. 
  1. If you are seeking a ‘90s vintage coffee shop vibe, look no further than the Black and queer- owned cafe, Back To The Grind in Riverside. Established by Owner Darren Conkerite in 1996, this cafe is a local staple for coffee, lunch, and a community workspace. They have a beer bar, gallery and a vegan menu too. Back To The Grind holds many themed events such as stand up comedy open mic nights, pride events, sing a longs, sip and paints and much more. 

Alyssah Hall is a multimedia journalist with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Cal State University Los Angeles. She joins Black Voice News as a UC Berkeley California Local News 2024-2026 Fellow. Born in SoCal and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia, Alyssah experienced what it was like to feel unrepresented and misunderstood. This upbringing inspired her passion for highlighting and uplifting the Black community and other minorities. Before working with BVN, Alyssah was a reporter for CSULA’s University Times and a freelance writer for the LA Sentinel. You can reach Alyssah for tips, comments or concerns at alyssah@voicemediaventures.com or via Instagram @alyssahhallbvn.