MLS Displays Commitment To Juneteenth Through Special Jersey Collection

Written by Daniel Jones

To celebrate Juneteenth – the historic date commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans in the US – MLS and Black Players For Change have produced Juneteenth-inspired jerseys along with a commemorative patch.

MLS announced the 2023 edition of its annual Juneteenth initiative: “The Seeds We Plant. The Flowers We Share,” inspired by the art of Black artist Gianni Lee. The initiative sees the league teaming up with Black Players For Change and photographer Mel D. Cole for 29 one-of-one collectible jerseys, which have been put up for auction. The jerseys, which feature artwork from Lee on the back and sleeve, will be signed by players and auctioned off, with funds going to organisations that impact the Black community in each club’s local market.

The seeds we plant. The flowers we share.

Today, MLS and @BPCMLS celebrate Juneteenth—the historic date commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African-Americans in the US and the third anniversary of BPC.

To honor this key marker in US history, we collaborated with artist… pic.twitter.com/bsjw0o8STV
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) June 19, 2023

Speaking about the jerseys, Gianni Lee said: “Storytelling is undeniably one of the most influential modes of communication. Just like seeds, stories have the ability to propagate and disseminate information in the absence of modern technology.

“Collaborating with MLS I was solely dedicated to exploring that concept through a soccer jersey. By incorporating my ‘blue hand’ motif, I aimed to narrate the tale of African cultural unity in the diaspora and illustrate how it continues to flourish, akin to a plant, within the fabric of American society each passing day.”

“Juneteenth is a holiday that gives us a chance to reflect on our history, and appreciate the progress we have made,” said Earl Edwards Jr., President, Black Players For Change. “Black Players for Change was established to generate change within MLS, and it’s local communities.

"Since our inception, we have been working closely with MLS to accomplish our goals, and the Juneteenth jersey is another example of the incredible work we have been able to do together. With the addition of Mel D. Cole, and Gianni Lee, to this year's collaboration, we were able to take our Juneteenth celebrations to new heights and I look forward to fans seeing the final jersey.”