Juneteenth, MBMC, Asbury
Happy Juneteenth! Read our blog about Juneteenth and tattoos. The 4th annual My Body My Choice Tattoo Flash Event is happening next month and we are still the only shop in NJ that participates. Don’t forget about the Asbury Park Tattoo Fest happening in Long Branch next month. Check out our socials to find out more about these events, or check back here next month!
Why Juneteenth Matters in Ink
Tattoos are permanent. So are the scars of slavery and systemic racism. When people choose to mark their bodies with symbols of Juneteenth, they are making a permanent commitment to remembering the past, honoring their ancestors, and celebrating the resilience of Black people.
Common themes in Juneteenth tattoos include:
Chains breaking apart, representing liberation from bondage
The Juneteenth flag, with its starburst and red, white, and blue design symbolizing freedom for all
The date “June 19, 1865” in script or Roman numerals
Portraits of Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, or contemporary Black leaders
Phrases like “Still We Rise,” “Free-ish since 1865,” or “Unbought, Unbossed”
Each of these carries layers of meaning—reminding the wearer and the world that Black freedom is both a historical milestone and an unfinished project.
Tattooing as a Tool of Reclamation
In the transatlantic slave trade, Black bodies were often branded and marked without consent. In that violent history, tattooing takes on profound significance—because now, Black people are choosing what goes on their skin, and why. Tattooing becomes an act of sovereignty.
Juneteenth tattoos represent more than a holiday. They are a reclaiming of body, story, and legacy. They say: We know where we came from. We know who we are. We know where we’re going.
Photo by Siednji Leon on Unsplash
Black Tattoo Artists and Cultural Stewardship
The tattoo industry, like many others, has historically been dominated by white voices. But in recent years, more Black tattoo artists have gained visibility and recognition, creating spaces where Black clients can feel seen, heard, and understood.
Tattooing Black skin requires technical knowledge, cultural sensitivity, and artistic skill. Black artists bring not just the technical ability, but the lived experience necessary to design tattoos that reflect the complexities of Black identity.These artists are not just technicians—they’re cultural stewards. They’re helping shape a visual language of Black liberation, one tattoo at a time.
More Than a Tattoo: A Living Legacy
To wear a Juneteenth tattoo is to carry history in the flesh. It’s a daily reminder of where we’ve been and a commitment to where we’re going. It honors the ancestors who never got to see freedom and empowers future generations to continue the fight for justice and equity.
Whether it’s a minimalist date or an elaborate back piece, every Juneteenth tattoo is a story etched in resilience, pride, and power.
Want to Learn More?
Follow Black tattoo artists and studios on platforms like Instagram (click here for artists we featured during Black History Month)
Watch documentaries such as Color Outside the Lines: A Tattoo Documentary (2012) and
Exploring the Black Experience in Tattooing | Intersectional Ink to explore the Black experience in the tattoo industry
Support events and flash tattoo days during Juneteenth hosted by Black-owned studios
This Juneteenth, whether you're marching, dancing, reflecting, or getting inked—celebrate freedom not just as a historical moment, but as a living, evolving truth.
Freedom is not given. It is claimed. And sometimes, it’s tattooed. ✊🏿
