Why red food and drinks have become powerful symbols on Juneteenth | CNN (2024)

FAQs

Why red food and drinks have become powerful symbols on Juneteenth | CNN? ›

The unique Juneteenth drink, along with numerous other red-hued foods and beverages, symbolizes the bloodshed and the profound sacrifices made by former enslaved Black Americans, according to food historian Adrian E Miller.

Aside from unity and perseverance, red has also been said to symbolize the bloodshed of enslaved Africans, and eating food of that color serves as a means to honor those who died during the slave trade. It just so happens that a lot of red-colored foods are in season in the summer, so the timing works out perfectly.

Red represents the millions of Black men and women who have lost their lives.

Juneteenth's food traditions are a way to bind generations in remembrance of trauma and celebration of emancipation. Zoom in: Red has become a key color for Juneteenth meals to celebrate resilience — watermelon salad, red velvet cake and strawberry soda or hibiscus tea are common items at Juneteenth gatherings.

During many Juneteenth celebrations, red drinks like strawberry soda are served. This is a connection to the people of West Africa who frequently drank kola nut tea and bissap (commonly called hibiscus tea), both red beverages.

According to food historian Michael Twitty, the tradition of eating red foods likely came from the enslaved Yoruba and Kongo people brought to Texas in the 19th century. The color red can represent power, sacrifice, and transformation in both of those cultures.

Historians claim that Red Drink's famous color can be traced back to more than four centuries ago, when West Africans used ingredients like hibiscus flowers and cola nuts to create red teas that were served at ceremonies and special occasions. The red teas were also used for medicinal purposes.

In honor of the federal holiday, businesses and communities display the Juneteenth flag, which, much like the American flag, is red, white and blue.

Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas.

The color of the soda is deeply significant not only for its connection to the past but for its metaphorical significance. The deep shade is a reminder of the blood and pain of slavery, as well as a symbol of resilience and strength that, according to food historian and scholar Michael W.

Why eat watermelon on Juneteenth? ›

Red foods, like the watermelon used in this summer cocktail, are commonly used to celebrate Juneteenth. The color red represents the blood lost by slaves before they were freed after the Civil War ended.

You can also expect to see seasonal fruits like strawberries and watermelon, potato salad, decadent desserts and any variation of a red drink at a Juneteenth celebration.

From specialty drinks to main courses, there is certainly no shortage of red foods at a proper Juneteenth celebration. The most popular red foods are Juneteenth Punch, red velvet cupcakes, and hot links.

As Chef Chris Scott, who spearheaded the James Beard Foundation's first Juneteenth celebration in 2018, explains, “the red symbolizes the blood that was shed by Black Africans and Black Americans during slave capture, slave travel, and slave trade here in the States and in the Caribbean.”

Outside of the official Juneteenth flag, you may see many people with red, black, and green (and sometimes yellow) clothes and flags. These are adapted from the Pan-African flag and are used to symbolize Black freedom and unification, with each color providing unique symbolism.

The red color is thought to symbolize the bloodshed and resilience of enslaved people and their descendants. This symbolism links to the historical struggles and triumphs of African Americans.

Some experts say the Juneteenth-themed foods and products show corporations are suddenly trying to commercialize a holiday that Black Americans have celebrated since June 19, 1865, when Union Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, in accordance with President Abraham Lincoln's ...

🍓🍓 Strawberries hold a special significance on Juneteenth because they symbolize the sweet freedom and fresh beginnings that the holiday represents. Traditionally, red foods and drinks, such as strawberries, are served to honor the bloodshed and resilience of those who fought for freedom.

According to the president of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation Steve Williams, the star is a "Bursting star of freedom." Williams also states that the arch representing the horizon shows blue above and the red color below is symbolic of the ground soaked with blood; the blood which was shed of the Black ...