Hello friends, Crystal from @thecrystallinaperspective on Instagram and Youtube. Please remember to use the code CRYSTALP10 or my link to save on your Archer and Olive purchases. 

This blog will be very different. This blog was created to raise awareness for those who are interested in being an Ally and/or learning about the black (African American) culture in the United States of America. Although we celebrate our history every February, Juneteenth is a very special day to people in the black (African American) community. This blog will enlighten and help others to learn and explore the black (African American) culture in the United States. Resources will be listed at the end of this blog for those who would like to learn more!

Why celebrate Juneteenth?

Juneteenth is a very special day in black lives across America. It was on this particular day, people of color (black/ African American) were truly set free! When the United States of America became an independent country on July 4, 1776, black (African American) people were not included in that body of “free” people. The black (African American) people were still slaves! It wasn’t until June 19, 1865 when the Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas  and announced the freedom of slaves (black- African American). Therefore, many black people celebrate this day and not July 4th. Although this is our day of freedom, black people experience much criticism (and some still do) because of the color of our skin in the United States. Juneteenth is our opportunity to  celebrate black culture, education, and achievements. Black lives still matter! It is sad that awareness has to be brought up but many black people still face racism in the United States of America. Although Juneteenth was an official date as of June 19, 1865- it wasn’t until June 19, 2021 that this day was made a federal holiday! This spread was created to enlighten others and spread awareness. 

Supplies You’ll Need:

• Archer and Olive Letter Sized Notebook or Square (8x8) sized 
• Archer and Olive B5 Rainbow Notepad
• Archer and Olive B5 Black Dot Grid Notepad
• Printable Stickers from CraftyPlannerQueen Etsy
• Printable Stickers from ChelaCreates Etsy
• Cookie Sticker Co Black Lives Still Matter Washi Tape
• Fancy Budgeting Washi Tape (Code Crystal10 saves)
• Pens/Pencils
• Scissors
• Glue Adhesive
• Tweezers

Laying the Foundation

To create this spread, we will use the colors green, red, gold (yellow), and black. These colors are very important to black people in the United States. These colors have bases rooted in Africa but are used here in America by black people. The colors are symbolic and are displayed on the Pan-African flag. These colors were introduced by Marcus Garvey in 1920 when he created the Pan-African flag. You will see black people use these colors during Black History Month as well. The colors are symbolic and each has a meaning. The red signifies blood that was lost from the African community throughout history. Those who were killed and brought from their country to another. The gold signifies the wealth and riches which are very vast within the African continent. The green signifies the hope of the Earth → The Promise Land of Ethiopia. The black signifies the black people and our strength to persevere through the most adverse times. These definitions are a fraction of what it really means to the black people but each color is important to the black people in America. 

When creating this spread, I used the primary colors and created a base line. Then, I used printables from two black woman owned Etsy shops. Links to their shops have been attached. I applied the stickers accordingly and then created an area to write facts down about Juneteenth. I also used washi tape from two black woman owned shops and embellished my spread. 

I used some Archer and Olive notepad papers from the B5 Rainbow and Black Notepad. These papers are super thick and are nice to create a design with. I then layered some of the printable stickers and washi on top. Lastly, I ended with some paper rectangles that I created from the Archer and Olive notepads. I used the space to write down important facts about Juneteenth.

The More You Know!

One of the best ways to understand something is to research it and learn. Learning is the best way to understand something. There are so many different resources that can help you to learn about Juneteenth. Learning about Juneteenth can help you to gain some insight about the holiday and may inspire you to want to support people of color. To support people of color, you can support their shops or businesses. If you are inspired by a black content creator, you can support their work by sharing their posts, commenting, and by using their affiliate links. You can speak out against injustices that you may see. You can donate to a charity that supports people of color. You can celebrate with black people on Juneteenth and spread the word about the holiday. You can also attend Juneteenth events and share with others. The sky's the limit on how you can know more and support black people.

Resources

There are many resources available to help you to learn more about Juneteenth. 

Here are a few websites that you can check out to learn more:

• www.juneteenth.com
• National Museum of African American History and Culture: www.nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth
• The Juneteenth Foundation: www.thejuneteenthfoundation.com
• NAACP: https://naacp.org/

Don’t forget to download the free printable!

If you decide to recreate any of these please tag @archerandolive, @archerandolive.community and use hashtags #AOShare and #archerandolive. You can find me on Instagram or YouTube: @TheCrystallinaPerspective