Juneteenth Reflection
I’m not here to teach. I’m here to learn - honestly, humbly, and with my whole heart.
At its core, my Substack is about how being a mom to four children - two by birth, two through adoption - has reshaped and reformed me in ways I’m still discovering every day. Motherhood changes you, full stop. But becoming an adoptive mom to two Black children cracked something wide open in me. The experience of mothering, protecting, and learning from them has shifted how I see the world - and my place in it. It asked me to confront what I hadn’t learned, to unlearn what I thought I knew, and to start seeing the world with new eyes - more attuned to injustice and more grounded in compassion. I’ve come to better understand how deeply whitewashed our culture is, how commercialism, media, and even our institutions present a narrow and distorted view of who and what matters. And I want no part in upholding that.
While I’m proud of the work I’ve done to deepen my understanding of my children’s experiences - and the experiences of other people of color - I know I still have so much more to learn. And that, my friends, is part of why I’m here. Not to write from a place of having arrived, but to share the messy and beautiful process of the journey of learning.
To be an ally is to keep examining my blind spots. To keep asking questions. To know when to speak up, and when to be quiet and just listen.
Today is Juneteenth, and I’m reminded again how much more there is for me to learn. I didn’t grow up hearing about Juneteenth, not once. I wasn’t taught this history in school, and I’m pretty sure the first time I heard the word was within the last fifteen years, after I became a parent to Black children.
I share this not with shame, but with honesty. I don’t believe guilt is a helpful motivator. I’m simply grateful that I did learn - and that I get to keep learning. I don’t think it helps me, or other white people who want to be allies, to shrink in embarrassment over what we didn’t know. I’d rather be open about my gaps and stay curious. That’s how we grow.
"Do the best you can until you know better. Then, when you know better, do better.”
—Maya Angelou
So today, I’m choosing to read, listen, reflect. I’m not here to teach, but am here to learn. So maybe you’d like to learn alongside me?
Below, I’ve shared a few resources I’m exploring today - articles and podcasts that will help expand my understanding and deepen my empathy. I want to keep becoming a better ally. A better mom. A better human. For my kids. And for yours, too.
With love,
Katie
Juneteenth Resources I’m Exploring
Read
What Is Juneteenth? – The New York Times
A clear and concise explainer on Juneteenth and why it matters today. (Behind a paywall but you can sign up for a free account for access.)The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth – National Museum of African American History and Culture
A rich overview with images and historical context from the Smithsonian.
Listen
Code Switch: The History and Meaning of Juneteenth – NPR
A thoughtful, accessible conversation about Juneteenth’s origins and significance.1619 Podcast, Episode 1: The Fight for Truth - on Spotify
Essential listening for anyone wanting to understand the long arc of American history through the lens of Black experience. (Or listen wherever you get your podcasts.)
Very helpful resource list. Thank you!