By Gus Bennett

Juneteenth Road Portraits 2025, New Orleans

BEFORE THE CELEBRATION DRUMS ECHOED IN CONGO SQUARE. Earlier than the odor of meals vans and the heartbeat of brass bands stuffed the air. Earlier than the solar lengthened shadows on the bottom on Juneteenth this yr, Len photojournalist Gus Bennett got down to do one thing completely different.

Over the course of a number of hours, earlier than a lot of the metropolis even completed their morning espresso, Bennett sat down with eight people and one household. Every had their very own rhythm, their very own cadence, their very own fact, as they responded to 1 query:

“Why is Juneteenth necessary to you — and to us as a nation?”

The solutions stretched throughout generations and geographies of the soul — tales of Black New Orleans on this second, stitched collectively by historical past, religion, frustration, hope, and satisfaction. One elder spoke of freedom nonetheless being unfinished.  A younger trainer mirrored on what it means to form free minds in a system that usually feels certain. A mom talked about elevating Black sons with love and concern in equal measure. A teen stated she simply needed to be seen.

In an period the place visibility is usually lowered to a scroll or a soundbite, these moments from New Orleans Juneteenth stood nonetheless — grounded in presence, in listening, in legacy.

Charity “Fortunate” Smith
Moved to New Orleans from Harlem
“Juneteenth is necessary as a result of it’s our freedom — it’s the proclamation of our freedom. Over 250,000 individuals had been emancipated simply 160 years in the past. That’s not that way back. We’re nonetheless that near slavery, and in some ways, we’re nonetheless within the system.

Because it pertains to range and inclusion, now we have to maintain reminding the world that we solely simply obtained out — and we’re nonetheless preventing to remain out.

That’s why now we have to be loud. the saying: the squeaky wheel will get the oil. Effectively, we’d like the oil. We want the sources, the popularity, and the fitting to thrive. That’s why Juneteenth issues — yearly, day by day.”

State Rep. Matthew Willard
Comes from a household of public servants 
“Juneteenth is a day the place we have a good time our freedom — our individuals, our tradition, our historical past. It’s about honoring how far we’ve come and recognizing how far we nonetheless must go.

At the present time is particular as a result of it brings us collectively. It reminds us to affix forces, to maintain pushing ahead, and to construct the longer term all of us deserve. My hope for New Orleans is that we proceed working collectively — aspect by aspect — to make this metropolis every thing we all know it may be.”

Dr. Shenitria Myles
Professor within the English division at Delgado Group School
“To me, Juneteenth is the embodiment of New Orleans — a metropolis formed by African American tradition, resilience, and creativity.

In a time when range, fairness, and inclusion are underneath assault, this Juneteenth reminds us that our story can’t be erased. Our presence issues. Our contribution issues. And we should proceed to have a good time and shield each.”

Mario Myles
Particular-education trainer and tattoo artist
“Juneteenth is necessary as a result of data of our previous helps us keep rooted within the current and put together for the longer term.

As a younger Black man in America, I consider it’s important that we keep in mind the place we come from — not only for our personal sense of identification, however for the generations coming behind us. Understanding our historical past offers us the facility to develop, to withstand, and to maintain constructing towards what’s subsequent.”

Dr. Irvin Robins Jr. 
Lifelong civil-rights advocate
“Juneteenth marks a major shift for African People and folks of coloration — not simply in America, however all over the world.

I’ve been a part of the battle since I used to be 9 years outdated. I’m 77 now. I’ve served as director of Civil Rights for the NAACP in Louisiana and labored throughout the nation to battle for justice and equality.  Proper now, we have to come again collectively. We’ve misplaced contact with one another in some ways, and it’s pressing that we reconnect.”

Tracey Robinson
Cultural educator, working towards a grasp’s diploma in city and regional planning
“Juneteenth is a milestone.
It’s not the place we started — and it’s not the place we’re going to finish — but it surely’s an necessary step alongside the journey. It reminds us, as individuals of coloration, of how shut we’re to turning into one of the best variations of ourselves.”

Randi Brown
Skilled athlete, taking part in basketball abroad
“Typically we overlook our personal majesty. We lose sight of how highly effective we’re — how particular our melanin, our options, our tradition really are.

And whereas some attempt to label us ‘an excessive amount of’ or ‘completely different,’ those self same persons are continuously attempting to repeat what we do and who we’re. We’re the usual. We’re the blueprint. And we’ve obtained to cease letting the world persuade us in any other case.”

The Morris-Ivory Household
Diana Morris, Mom
“Juneteenth is necessary to our nation as a result of it reminds African People the place we got here from — and helps us perceive the place we’re going. It offers us the prospect to understand the strides we’ve made, whereas additionally recommitting ourselves as a neighborhood to maintain getting higher. It’s each a celebration and a problem to develop.”

Dijohn Ivory, Daughter, age 18
“It’s necessary as a result of Juneteenth empowers Black individuals — and we’d like that power and that data. We have to comprehend it. We have to declare it.”

Trenae Morris, Daughter, age 9
“My little Black Lady Magic is necessary as a result of Black ladies must be handled proper — and know they’re necessary. And why am I lovely? I’m lovely as a result of I’m Black.”

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