MLS jerseys to celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth, or 19, which became a bank holiday in 2021, has always played a central role in African American identity, representing the day the slaves were freed in Texas in 1866 on the orders of Major General Gordon Granger. A celebration that over the years has reached the world of art, literature, film and eventually even football, which addresses social and racial issues in this new MLS initiative. In collaboration with multidisciplinary artist Gianni Lee and the Black Players For Change association, the largest professional football league in the US has designed a special edition of jerseys to celebrate African American culture.

The project, "The Seeds We Plant. The Flowers We Share" reinterprets MLS jerseys by placing the number 19 on the back of each club's home jersey, framed by hands encircling blooming flowers. Commenting on the jersey design, Lee said, "Storytelling is undeniably one of the most influential forms of communication. Just like seeds, stories have the ability to spread and disseminate information in the absence of modern technology." An edition of each jersey will be auctioned off and all proceeds will be donated to charities that support black communities in every city in MLS. In addition to the limited edition jerseys, patches and numbers will also be available for purchase on the Black Players For Change website.