Instagram Introduces Content, Features for Juneteenth

Instagram detailed several content initiatives and other features that are emerging across its platform to mark Juneteenth Friday. On the @instagram account, members of Bronx-based culinary collective Ghetto Gastro will host a Juneteenth cookout with special guests via Instagram Live. An animated short created by the Love Watts artist collective will detail the significance of the holiday. And DJ and “King of Black Joy” D-Nice will also discuss the importance of Juneteenth, which happens to be his birthday, and DJ the afterparty for the episode of music battle series Verzuz at 8 p.m. ET Friday, which pits Alicia Keys against John Legend. The episode and after party will come via Instagram Live on the @VERZUZTV account. Instagram’s @creators channel will roll out a must-follow list of 15 Black creators. The @design channel will feature an exclusive show of posters and illustrations from the Black community, historical and new, telling the story of Black protest art over time. It was curated by Whitney Museum of American Art assistant curator Rujeko Hockley, and it will also appear on @instagram. And the Instagram @shop account highlighted non-binary shaving brand Out the People Thursday, while Friday’s spotlight will shine on Atlanta-based founder Dionne Mahaffey and her #BlackGreetingCards. Instagram teamed up with three Black artists—Marco Cheatham, Mina Elise and Andrea Pippins—on a series of Juneteenth stickers that will be available throughout the month of June. [kickout id="1"] [kickout id="2"] [kickout id="3"] [kickout id="4"] [kickout id="5"] [kickout id="6"] When an Instagrammer uses one of the stickers, it unlocks a badge that decorates their Story ring. A new collection of augmented reality effects designed by Black AR creators is available for use, as well, and the effects help promote racial justice. Instagram moved its donations tool to the top row of the Stories sticker tray and added an Act for Racial Justice module, which provides access to donation stickers for the American Civil Liberties Union, The Bail Project, Equal Justice Initiative, Innocence Project and The Marshall Project. Finally, Instagram’s Explore tab now features a Well Being section including guides to provide access to expert organizations and publishers supporting actions for racial justice. The Well Being section debuted with guides from: Child Mind Institute and The Conscious Kid, on talking to kids about race and racial issues; Equal Justice Initiative, on how Black people can support their mental health in the current environment; the NAACP, sharing thoughts and messages of support around its #WeAreDoneDying campaign; and Weird Enough HQ, on artists that bring people joy.