Juneteenth is a significant day in American history, marking the official recognition of emancipation for enslaved Black people in Texas. When the Union Army arrived in Galveston on June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 brought the news of freedom, which had technically been in effect for over two years. For many, it was the first time they could claim the freedom that had been denied to them for so long.
Barney and Hester Smith, an elderly couple interviewed by the Federal Writers’ Project, vividly remembered the moment when they heard about their freedom. “Old master didn’t tell us,” Hester recalled. “We just heard from others. Then the soldiers came and we left.” Barney, who had experienced the hardships of forced labor, expressed the disbelief that came with their newfound freedom — no land, no money, no home.
Juneteenth symbolizes not just liberation but also the delay and the gap between what was promised and what was actually delivered. The recent federal recognition of Juneteenth in 2021 was seen as progress, but for many, it felt like another symbolic gesture rather than a substantial change.
Emancipation didn’t come with financial security, land, or protection. Black communities had to rely on their own ingenuity to survive and thrive. Mutual aid societies, churches, co-ops, and cultural spaces became infrastructures of survival, resistance, and self-determination.
In the arts world today, Black, queer, disabled, and working-class artists continue to face challenges. They are often invited to be visible but not adequately compensated for their work. The dominant art world still operates on a system of extraction, where artists’ labor fuels institutions that do not recognize their right to ownership or fair compensation.
The Cost of Prestige and the Price of Erasure
Many established institutions and brands have histories tied to exploitation and violence, yet they often sanitize their past in marketing campaigns. Brooks Brothers, for example, built its early success on producing clothing for enslaved laborers but now celebrates its heritage as a choice for elites. This practice of laundering history to maintain prestige is also prevalent in the art world, where institutions platform Black artists without addressing the systemic issues of exploitation and exclusion.
Representation of Black life in visual culture often focuses on trauma and vulnerability, perpetuating a cycle where visibility does not equate to liberation. The art world prioritizes spectacle over structural change, replicating the same dynamics of extraction that have marginalized artists for generations.
Philanthropy has played a complex role in Black resistance, offering resources while shaping the terms of liberation. Organizations like the Ford Foundation have historically funded Black cultural work but often steered movements away from radical self-determination. Artists have challenged these power dynamics by creating mechanisms for redistribution and accountability.
What Artists Already Know: Building Power Without Permission
Artists have developed innovative strategies to challenge the status quo and reroute the flow of value. Initiatives like contractually binding collectors to support underrepresented artists and creating structures like the Reparations Purpose Trust critique the inaccessibility of justice and wealth generated from exploitation.
Financial institutions that profited from slavery now sponsor cultural programs and events without acknowledging their origins. The art world often functions as a vehicle for cultural laundering, rebranding racial violence as philanthropy. Artists are expected to donate their time and labor while their communities continue to bear the cost of historical exploitation.
To address these systemic issues, artists have advocated for transparency in artist fees, community-centered contracts, and accountability from funders and institutions. The focus is on building structures that prioritize equity and redistribution, rather than perpetuating exploitative practices.
Juneteenth serves as a reminder of the resilience and creativity of Black communities throughout history. Mutual aid networks, like those established after emancipation and during the Civil Rights era, laid the foundation for artist-led initiatives that prioritize community needs and cultural exchange.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, let’s not mistake visibility for value. True freedom is built through structural change and defended by those who advocate for equity and justice. The time for waiting is over — it’s time to claim what we deserve.
