Looking to the Future…Juneteenth

Coming up on June 19th is the celebration of Juneteenth. Although celebrated
by African Americans for well over a century it has only been acknowledged
throughout the nation more recently and is now a federal holiday. On January 1st, 1863, The Emancipation Proclamation took effect which freed all slaves in Confederate states. But in 1863 news and information travelled at a different rate than now. It was not until June 19th, 1865, when the Union army arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas and that General Granger announced:

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."

On December 6th, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment was ratified ending slavery in all the United States.

Juneteenth is really another Independence Day for our nation. It is when everyone was recognized as free rather than only part of the population being free. The holiday is celebrated much like July 4 th , with family and friends,
recognizing the day as one of equality. It can also be a time to reflect on our ability to recognize the wrong and then us doing what is necessary to make it right. This is something each of us can do in our own lives and in our actions
towards others. There is no longer room in this world for bigotry, hatred and racism. Each of us has the power to change in order to make our tiny corner of the world, fairer, more just and good for all..., not just ones like “us”.

Let us celebrate Juneteenth as another day nearer a bright, just and kind future.

June 14th World Blood Donor Day
June 16th World Sea Turtle Day