Why Barbecue Is An Essential Part of Black History

• #toc_item_0 • [Why Barbecue Is An Essential Part of Black History](#toc_item_1) • [Learn more](#toc_item_2) • [Make This Classic Red Velvet Cake to Celebrate Juneteenth](#toc_item_3) • [Yum!](#toc_item_4) • [How Chef Dawn Burrell Discovered Her New Food Style](#toc_item_5) • [Embracing Juneteenth](#toc_item_6) • [Why You Should Be Drinking This Spiced Hibiscus Tea This Summer](#toc_item_7) • [Cheers!](#toc_item_8) • [12 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth in Los Angeles This Year](#toc_item_9) • [LA is celebrating](#toc_item_10) • [Retracing the Legacy of America’s Premier Black Travel Guide](#toc_item_11) • [More than just a travel guide](#toc_item_12) *Header 728x90 [] Though Juneteenth is gaining national recognition, there are still so many misconceptions about its origins and why it even exists. The holiday commemorates June 19, 1865 when in Galveston, Texas, Major General Gordon Granger announced the end of the Civil War and the abolishment of slavery. (This was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, which ended slavery in Confederate states.) Celebrations of this monumental day started in Texas, but have gradually spread across the nation. This week, President Joe Biden even signed a bill into law establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday. “My biggest concern really has been that we don't lose sight of what it was about, and that over time it doesn’t turn into a Memorial Day mattress sale,” says Texas native Adrian Lipscombe, founder of the [40 Acres & A Mule Project](. Lipscombe, who explains red velvet cake’s connection to Juneteenth below, adds that ancestral knowledge has kept the holiday alive. “I learned that my family reunions were always around Juneteenth,” she says. “These are the oral stories where we get to hear about what it means to be Black in Texas and what it meant for our family to be freed.” Read on to hear from a Houston chef sharing her perspective on the holiday, a hibiscus tea inspired by West Africa, festivals and events to celebrate, and historical Black history sites around the country. But regardless of what your Juneteenth plans look like this weekend, be sure to put understanding why it’s a celebration in the first place at the top of your list. —[Kristen Adaway, Staff Writer, Thrillist Food & Drink]( [ [( food & drink [] [Why Barbecue Is An Essential Part of Black History]( Every summer of my child and teenagehood was peppered with cookouts. Sweaty coolers filled with Little Hug juice containers, enough aluminum foil rolls laying around to seal several months’ worth of leftovers, Cameo blasting through a small boombox, and, of course, the sounds of my dad and uncles going back and forth over whose ribs were better. [] [Learn more]( [( [( food & drink [] [Make This Classic Red Velvet Cake to Celebrate Juneteenth]( Whether you prefer it in the deepest shade of red, or the hue of ripe strawberries, red velvet cake is a classic on any dessert table. And for Juneteenth, the dessert offers much more than just a satisfaction to your sweet tooth. [] Yum! [ [( food & drink [] [How Chef Dawn Burrell Discovered Her New Food Style]( Any longtime fan of Top Chef has noticed a change in recent seasons. The Bravo cooking competition once fueled by fiery tempers and cutthroat challenges now feels more like a collaborative melting pot with chefs helping each other in the final minutes of a challenge and shedding tears with every sendoff. [] [Embracing Juneteenth]( [( [( food & drink [] [Why You Should Be Drinking This Spiced Hibiscus Tea This Summer]( Hibiscus-flavored beverages have been on the rise and broadcast as “trendy” for the past few years in the United States. But those in the African Diaspora have been steeping the flower for centuries. Bissap, sobolo, zobo, sorrel, red drink—you name it. There are hundreds of hibiscus species, but the bright red variety most often used for drinks is known as the roselle. It’s a nutrient-rich, tropical flower indigenous to West Africa as well as East Africa and Southeast Asia. And it’s what Akua Kyerematen Nettey, owner of Berry Bissap, is on a mission to honor and preserve. [] [Cheers!]( [( [( travel [] [12 Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth in Los Angeles This Year]( Here are 12 ways to celebrate Juneteenth in and around LA this weekend, from a free barbecue to Black-owned marketplaces, live music, and more. [] [LA is celebrating]( [( *720x300 Ad Banner [( travel [] [Retracing the Legacy of America’s Premier Black Travel Guide]( The Negro Motorist Green Book was quite literally a lifesaver for Black people navigating America’s roadways during Jim Crow. Published between 1936 and 1967, the guide cataloged hotels, rest stops, diners, clubs, and resorts that could be trusted as welcoming safe havens for Black travelers. [] [More than just a travel guide]( [( *Footer 728x90 Thrillist Editorial - Favorable reviews cannot be bought. Read our [Terms & Conditions](, [Privacy Policy]( Delivered by Thrillist.com, 568 Broadway, Suite 507, New York, NY 10012 [212.966.2263]( Sent to {EMAIL}. Add themove@newsletter.thrillist.com to your safe-sender list so our emails get to your inbox. [View On The Web]( [Content Settings]( [Unsubscribe](