Black JoyRide on pg 3 of the Chicago Reader (click image for more)
The Black JoyRide is a yearly mass bike ride organized to celebrate Juneteenth holiday.
Taking place on the South Side of Chicago, the BJR is a direct response to the violence and segregation experienced by Black communities, focused on amplifying the visibility of Black joy.
On June 19, 1865, Union Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, announcing that all enslaved people were free. This effectively ended slavery in the last Confederate state, even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, as Texas had not complied.
When we ride in honor of “Freedom Day” we remember a painful past while shaping an equitable and prosperous future. We welcome all to celebrate this triumph in human history! Riding in unity and purpose reminds us that our freedoms exist in tandem with one another. No one is free until we are all free.
Our Vision
While we invite all people to join, we specifically intend to get as many Black folks as possible on bikes, promoting the physical and mental health benefits of biking, while also advocating for social and environmental justice in Black and brown neighborhoods.
Historically, Black folks have been left out of the decision-making processes when it comes to creating a more walkable and bikable neighborhood, yet the fastest growth in bicycling is among the POC populations.
This Years Juneteenth Black JoyRide
SAVE THE DATE
Chicago, IL
Friday, June 19, 2025
Saturday, June 20, 2026
