Among the local designers and artists who began making face masks in 2020, many Black designers were inspired to infuse powerful messages into their creations. This mask was sewn and hand painted by designer Ashaunti Martin-Smith of Ashaunti Monique Customs. Juneteenth is a celebration of Black liberation, celebrated on June 19th. It is the anniversary of the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to free slaves in that territory-- a full two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. In 2020 the celebration took on new meaning as the murder of George Floyd had sparked a wave of protests and a national reckoning with ongoing racism in America. Celebrations in Seattle were held with masks and outdoors because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. About her mask design, Martin-Smith wrote, “My mask represents unity and healing for everyone. Any and everyone can wear my masks to become further involved in the cultural movement that will help create change in our world and daily lives.”