Happy Juneteenth from Terrace!
There’s still a lot of work to do to achieve liberation, equality and justice – we’re here for the work and we welcome you to join us!
How are you commemorating Juneteenth? Drop it in the comments so we can see what everyone is up to!
Need some ideas? Check out some of the resources we gathered…
Juneteenth is the oldest nationally-celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. Dating back to 1865, it was on June 19th that the Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and that the enslaved were now free, 2.5 years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are truthfully acknowledging a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today.” This week, the Senate, House, and President Joe Biden all agreed that Juneteenth should be established as a national holiday, officially transforming a regional observance into a federal holiday on June 19, as Juneteenth National Independence Day. The holiday is the first federal holiday established since Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1983, becomes at least the eleventh federal holiday recognized by the federal government, and was observed yesterday because Juneteenth falls on a Saturday this year. The American government’s vote for the federal holiday is a symbolic step towards inclusion; we must continue to hold our legislators and institutions accountable for their votes and actions related to racial justice and full freedom for Black communities. Grateful for the historical and current significance of Juneteenth, also known as Black Independence Day.
“I knew then and I know now, when it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it.” Claudette Colvin
“I swear to the Lord, I still can’t see why democracy means everybody but me.” Langston Hughes
“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory, or an acceptance of the way things are. Instead, it’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, things do get better. America can change.” President Barack Obama