How to celebrate Juneteenth in metro Phoenix

People across the Valley and the country will celebrate Juneteenth this weekend.

Why it matters: June 19, 1865, was the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, received the news that Abraham Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation two years earlier.

Flashback: President Biden signed legislation into law last June making it a federal holiday.

• It was following a summer of protests in response to George Floyd's murder in Minneapolis.
• Phoenix, Tempe, Goodyear, Avondale, Scottsdale, Tolleson and Surprise have since recognized Juneteenth as a paid holiday for city workers.

What they're saying: Laquan Austion, founder of The Juneteenth Foundation in Washington, says people of all races should view June 19 as an American holiday — not one just for Black people.

• "Think about July 4th," Austion tells Axios. "We celebrate that day for American independence. Juneteenth represents our independence from ourselves. Now we all have the ability to pursue the Founding Fathers' vision."
• The group was founded in 2020 to build awareness around Juneteenth and promote celebration of it as an American holiday.

How to celebrate: The new federal holiday should be viewed as more than another day off from work, Austion says. Here are some ways he says people can recognize Juneteenth:

• Learn the history around the holiday. This is a moment to be introspective and ask "Why were people still enslaved in 1865? Why didn’t they get the information in Galveston until two years later?" he says.
• Scholarships: He encourages people to give to historically Black colleges and universities.
• DEI: Push your company on diversity, equity and inclusion policies. "DEI is really sexy right now," he says. "We want to make sure that remains important. What are our companies' plans?"
• Celebrate: Austion says it's important to recognize that for some people, this is a "moment of solace and mourning." But still, people should get out in their communities, go to events and use this as an "opportunity to learn and hear."

On being an ally: "Definitely go out, be an ally, be an asset," Austion says. "But don't be tone deaf and try to hijack it as your own. Don't try to commercialize it. Go out there and enjoy the festivities and learn and celebrate this as Americans."

Local events to check out: There are more than a dozen of festivals and celebrations across metro Phoenix this weekend.

• Saturday at 5pm: Valley of the Sun Juneteenth Celebration at Eastlake Park.
• Saturday at 6pm: Zen Nights Vegan Block Party — Juneteenth edition in downtown Mesa.
• Sunday at 11am: Juneteenth on the Lake at Lake Pleasant.
• Sunday at 2pm: Scottsdale Juneteenth Celebration at Scottsdale Stadium.