Take me to the river…
On this day, 158 years ago in the island city of Galveston, Texas, the metaphorical and physical chains were finally broken. In 1865, two years after President Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclamation, the final victims of the chattel slavery in the United States were freed. On that slavery died in America. And even though that rot in our roots, still lingers, this is a day of celebration.
It symbolizes resilience, strength, and the relentless pursuit of freedom as our fight for equality and acceptance continues. In honor our ancestors we continue to challenge societal norms and encourage you to embrace the culture that was denied them remember to love your authentic selves without fear or shame. By drawing inspiration from these moments, we forge a path towards a more inclusive and liberated society, where we can thrive and celebrate their unique identities without restraint.
In Pangea’s Garden, this is the third time we sought to commemorate Juneteenth with a creative collaboration that focuses on the communal joy that comes from practicing our own brand of sensual liberation and empowerment. earthSista PRIZM stepped behind the camera this time, acting as the Art Director and Creative Coordinator for this outing as several new earthSistas and earthBrothas participated, paving the way for a new generation of MUSES to inspire us with their Afrosensuality. A new day is dawning in Pangea today.
earthSista PRIZM art directs Pangea’s Juneteenth Celebration shoot, adorning the earthSistas and earthBrothas in fabrics and bodyart for the experience.
Juneteenth holds immense importance to Black Pride as it represents a pivotal moment in the struggle for our freedom and equality. Juneteenth serves as a reminder for us to take time to celebrate the achievements, cultural heritage, and contributions of Black people to society, while also acknowledging the ongoing fight for racial justice and empowerment. We,as individuals and communities, to come together, honor our ancestors, and embrace their identity with pride. We build a sense of unity, empowerment, free of inhibition that stems from the cultural oppression forge a path of collective healing, while highlighting the importance of continuing the work towards dismantling systemic racism.
Go to the river and, ritually, wash away the cultural and societal disillusions that undermine your empowerment. Emerge, naked and beautiful without limitations and embrace you. And when you feel the love and pride that was denied our ancestors, make it your mission to share it today.
“This is an expression of the African American decent. We are here to show love for our culture and represent the struggles our ancestors and ourselves endeavor thru modeling and art.”
– earthSista LolaLove
Cultivate and elevate.
Live the Garden Life.
These images were provided TCV Photography, one of the extraordinary photographers in Pangea’s family. If you would join our growing family as a content creator let us know. We are looking for writers, artists, photographers, assistants, graphic designers… etc. If this is you email us at udou@pangeasgarden.com and let us know how you would like to contribute.
