Sunshine Serenity: The not so Red Juneteenth Red Drink

A Hibiscus rose lemonade fizz to soothe the heart and cool the body

Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom, evokes a somber kind of joy. As a child of Liberian and Ghanaian immigrants, this day represents an incredulously nuanced history. I often wonder, were any of my ancestors' freed' on Juneteenth? Which of my bloodlines can I trace back to the Kru people, who fled violent enslavement using their maritime skills? While still unanswered, these questions add a layer of depth and curiosity to my understanding of a fucked up yet historical event.

The Kru people have a long legacy of freedom. Native to what is now called Liberia, the Kru were renowned for their stunning maritime skills and were among those who resisted and fled during the transatlantic slave trade era. Known for their expertise in navigating the unique coastline waters surrounding West Africa, many Kru used their seafaring mastery to escape captivity by boarding other ships or constructing their vessels. Pirates of a sort, their knowledge of the Atlantic coastline enabled them to evade ca…