To start this one, I must first pay homage to the Rivers family and the many friends out in Gordon Heights, Long Island. We’re talking about my second home today.
See, Juneteenth was a holiday I’ve been celebrating with my mom and her friends since the 1990s. Every June, like clockwork, she would take me to her friend’s house for a waffle breakfast to celebrate Juneteenth. As a kid, I didn’t know the full story behind it. What I knew was that on that day, I was surrounded by love, food, history, and the kind of community warmth you don’t forget.
I swear, growing up in the hood — and don’t let the “LI” part fool you — Gordon Heights is still the hood, respectfully. And it’s home. It was a loving and nurturing place for me. It gave me the rigor and heart that keeps pushing me forward to this day.
I’ll always love Southside Queens (Jamaica) and Gordon Heights (Strong Island). I spent my childhood split almost in half between these two places. And both gave me pride.
Back to the breakfast: It was always the elders and community leaders coming out. I felt important, like I belonged, like my Blackness was honored in that space. I thank God for Ms. Rivers for putting this on — because truth be told, we didn’t even really know what Juneteenth was back then. And that was the magic. We were learning by living it.
These rich memories and sacred moments are why I’m so loyal to my home. Being from the hood in NY never seemed like a bad thing to me. It’s just where you’re from. And in New York, our communities aren’t just diverse in culture — they’re diverse in train of thought. That’s what gives NY its grind. If we can make it here, we can make it anywhere.
✊🏾 Fast Facts About Juneteenth:
- Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865 — the day Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the last enslaved Black people in America.
- In New York, slavery had already been abolished as early as July 4, 1827. But because of racial tensions, many Black New Yorkers celebrated independently on July 5th, a tradition now known as Black Independence Day.
- Juneteenth is more than just history — it’s living memory. It’s a day of pride, community, and the persistent journey toward true freedom.
So today, I celebrate Gordon Heights, the Rivers family, my mom, my elders — and all the kids like me who got to learn their history at a kitchen table over waffles and orange juice.
Let’s never forget: home is where the first lessons of freedom begin.
Be Wise. Be True. JustINSPIRE.
