Apple & Ajuan Mance Celebrate Juneteenth in Their Own Stylish Ways
Apple’s “Storytelling” Highlight
Apple recently released a spotlight piece for Juneteenth that does more than just flash a green logo.
It spins the tale of a chronicler who resurrects historic Black figures, throwing them into the spotlight with a modern twist.
Think of it as a tech‑savvy mash‑up of history and today—no Silicon Valley jargon, just a genuine appreciation for the stories that shaped our world.
Ajuan Mance’s Comic Relief
Comic artist and scholar Ajuan Mance has dropped a fresh series titled The Ancestors’ Juneteenth.
This collection reimagines famed Black trailblazers as if they were 21st‑century citizens:
- Harriet Tubman’s got a GPS and a latte.
- Marcus Garvey is now a TikTok influencer.
- So many more icons stepping into contemporary shoes.
Mance blends humor with heartfelt homage—an invitation to remember the past while owning the present.
Why This Matters
Both Apple and Mance tap into the pulse of Juneteenth by blending old and new narratives.
They’re not just talking about freedom; they’re celebrating it—fully, fiercely, and with a splash of fun.
From corporate campaigns to indie comics, Juneteenth is proving that honoring history can be as fresh and relatable as your favorite meme.
How a Notebook Meets the Future (and Creates Art, Speedily)
Imagine you’re doodling on a thick notebook, then you get a iPad Pro, hit Adobe Scan, and poof! your sketch turns into a clean digital masterpiece. That’s the starting point for this cool art series.
From Paper to Pixels
- Scan the sketch with Adobe Scan, turning a hand‑drawn line into a crisp digital file.
- Open it in Adobe Fresco, Procreate, or Adobe Photoshop and start coloring with the Apple Pencil, as if you’re painting a canvas on a screen.
- Use the iPad’s glow and the Pencil’s precision to bring every line to life.
Enter “The Ancestors’ Juneteenth”
In the latest episode of this series, the artist travels back to history while keeping a modern vibe. Picture Harriet Tubman and Rosa Parks strolling along the banks of the Combahee River—just to show that the past isn’t stuck behind a closed door.
- Why Juneteenth? It’s an American holiday that celebrates African American emancipation. The series calls it a “humanizing” tribute.
- Modern twist—he places historic figures in today’s surroundings, allowing viewers to feel the lineage spanning the 19th to the 21st century.
- Goal—to give black pioneers a face in the present, so we all can understand where we’ve come from.
Feel the Emotion, Laugh a Little
The images are not just history lessons—they’re feel‑good stories about resilience with a sprinkle of humor. Think of a 19th‑century icon holding a selfie‑stick while cheering traffic lights. It’s both a salute to their courage and a nod to us now, taking selfie breaks while remembering history.
Takeaway
Through simple tech—scan, draw, color, and a dash of imagination—the artist turns a classic paper sketch into a digital saga. And that’s a lesson in turning ordinary into extraordinary, with a side of social justice.
