Honouring Juneteenth: A Celebration of Progress and Possibility
“Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are [or were]. It's a celebration of progress.” — Barack Obama
On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that enslaved African Americans were finally free. This day, now known as Juneteenth a blend of "June" and "nineteenth" marks a powerful moment in American history.
Juneteenth is not just a commemoration of emancipation, it is a tribute to the resilience of our ancestors, a recognition of how far we've come and a reminder of how far we still have to go. It is a day to reflect on the painful truths of our past, to honor the strength and spirit of those who endured and to recommit ourselves to the ongoing work of justice and equality.
Let us celebrate freedom, progress, hope and the promise of a better future. Change is possible and we rise.
