Food historian and cookbook author Adrian Miller explained that red holds important symbolism for Juneteenth, which first took place on June 19, 1865. There are few theories on why red is important because the information wasn't always documented, Miller told Insider.
"The one I hear frequently is that red symbolizes the blood shed by enslaved West African ancestors," he said. "So, red pays homage and respect to those ancestors who died during the Atlantic slave trade."
As a result, the color red traditionally appears throughout Juneteenth weekend in everything from flags and apparel to food.
Ahead of the celebrations, I made Chef Chris Williams of Lucille's recipe for slow cooker red beans and rice that he shared with Consumer Reports in June 2021. Lucille's is a Houston-based restaurant focused on Southern cuisine founded by Williams, who attended Le Cordon Blue in Texas, the website said.
It's a hands-off recipe that creates a creamy texture with the red beans and gets a flavor boost from the added turkey leg.