TAP Remembers and Celebrates Juneteenth

TAP staff and Virtual Intensive Training interns share their artwork and words reflecting on what Juneteenth means to them. Scroll to the bottom for Juneteenth history, NYC events, and other resources.

Alassane Diop - TAP Intern

Artist Statement - Alassane Diop

The flag is a representation of the black diaspora and the ever-growing unity we have. The colors on the flag are commonly used in many African/black countries and the hand holding the torch was inspired by Zaires' flag (now known as Congo Kinshasa). I've always liked the look of the colors plus the torch so I thought why not combine both. I was listening to reggae, dancehall, soca, soukous and afrobeats while making it. Despite what culture we come from, we always love each other's music and the genres often blend together.

Brooklyn Bookworm - Meli Holdipp - TAP Intern

Artist Statement - Meli Holdipp

My name is Meli Holdipp, aka “Melodrawmah,” and I am a 24 year old visual and media artist from Brooklyn. I made this piece, titled “Brooklyn Bookworm” for Brooklyn Public Library’s Black American Heritage Card Competition back in January. Although my design wasn’t selected (and I found that out around my birthday of all times!) I am still proud of this Juneteenth design I made. The task for this project was to create a library card design that captures Black American culture and history, as well as the creator’s connection to Brooklyn. 

As an Afro- Caribbean from the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, my connection with Brooklyn and the African American community began during my birth. As a first generation Bajan- American, I was well aware of the tension between the African American and Caribbean communities in Brooklyn. I always found that reality to be unfortunate- not just as someone who is both Caribbean and American, but because our heritage is intertwined. From the time Europeans colonized our ancestors , Black people have globally worked to fight for the (semi) freedom we have today.  It was a bit challenging to summarize 500 years of African American history onto one card design. I could have focused on anything such as music, leaders or events. However, I thought that a great way to represent Black American history- specifically in Brooklyn,  was to list all the countries and cities in Africa, Latin America , and the Caribbean that Black people descend from. Each of our cultures (African, Latino , Caribbean and African American) have enclaves in Brooklyn, as well as regions outside of Brooklyn with a rich history that we should all learn about and embrace.

  I decided to combine the idea of connecting the African diaspora in Brooklyn with celebrating Juneteenth, which I did by combining the art of illustration with graphic design. I drew a Black woman in the middle of the card to represent a modern Brooklynite dressed in Afro- Centric and New York Attire (bamboo earrings, facial piercings, winged eyeliner, acrylic nails, and an Afro the shape of Brooklyn).  The year “1865” on her hand is a tattoo that celebrates Juneteenth, which marks the ending of slavery in the United States. 

Behind her are the names of countries in the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa, as well as the names of famous Black cities in the U.S, and Black neighborhoods in NYC. The regions are written in red and green against a black background to mimic the American flag , while using Pan- African colors. The woman is designed in a neon- portrait style to symbolize the digital era that we’re in now, as well as to represent New York City-” the city that never sleeps”, because it is illuminated with lights. I drew her reading a book for a few reasons. A main reason since this was a card design for the Brooklyn Public Library, I still wanted to connect my design to the organization it is for. Another reason is to show that texts are one way for the diaspora to learn about their roots. In a way, the flag in the background made up of words can be seen as the information she is learning about her heritage ,and also about the history of these important Black regions throughout the world.

Despite my design not being selected, I am just proud of myself for creating a piece of art that can represent Black people throughout the diaspora, as well as honoring Juneteenth. This holiday holds importance to me, despite only discovering its meaning only a few years ago. Unfortunately for many Black people, there are many events that were significant to our fight for freedom that are purposefully not taught in our schools. Once I learned about the meaning of Juneteenth, I decided to adopt it as my second independence day alongside Barbados’ one (which is November 30th). Even though many Black people in Brooklyn are not of African- American heritage, Juneteenth, in my opinion, should be celebrated by those of the African diaspora. 

It is events like Juneteenth and the Haitian Revolution, for instance, that didn’t just impact one town or country, but the Black race as a whole. Emancipation and declaration of independence from any of our communities is a sign of progression, determination, and freedom for Black people in my eyes. That’s why June specifically is one of my favorite months-I honor Juneteenth, Pride Month, and Caribbean- American Heritage month simultaneously. As an Queer- identifying Afro- Caribbean, I find that these months and dates which celebrate marginalized groups in America remind me that I can amount to anything because of the efforts that Black communities across the globe have made for me to have the opportunities that I have today.

Meredith Dean - Clinical Program Director

For me, Juneteenth celebrates the soaring spirit, the awe-invoking resilience, and the communal power of Black folks. It also echoes the pain, historical and present, of enslaved African Americans and how far we still have to climb to ensure true freedom for all.

Nala Turner - Art Therapist + Clinical Program Associate

Happy Juneteenth to my 𝒎𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔. 

Today we don’t look at ourselves through the eyes of the White American convention. Today we are not “other”. Today we don’t have to be a spokesperson for our race. But instead hold steady as our sound and movement spark action, and celebrate 𝘢𝘭𝘭 our 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨.

In our lifetime we have endured more things than can be written in 2021 words. And yet, we continue to avail, to describe, to illustrate the journey of the Black folk experience. 

People will easily forget what we’ve said. Or the things we have done. But they’ll rarely forget what we’ve made them feel. And, as always, we’ve made them feel how 𝙥𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙖𝙡 we’ve always been.

Stephanie Syfert - Art Therapist + Community Relations Manager

Juneteenth is one day that represents hundreds of years of resilience, courage, strength, and beauty of the black community. On June 19th and always, it is a time to reflect on the role my white privilege has played in the oppression of black people and how I can do better as an ally. It is a time to uplift black voices through supporting black owned businesses, listening to their stories, speaking up when I witness injustices, and continuing to educate myself on black history and systemic racism in all its forms.