06/19/2026
Today is Juneteenth. On June 19, 1865, nearly two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops arrived with this news at Galveston Bay, Texas. More than 250,000 African Americans embraced freedom by executive decree in what became known as Juneteenth, or Freedom Day.
This year, we’re honoring the power of memory, spirit, and self-determination through the voices of Iya Wanda Ravernell-Stewart and Baba Tobaji Stewart, of Oakland’s Omnira Institute. In this snippet, originally streamed live on our page in 2020, they share about the organization's mission and the way they commemorate Juneteenth each year.
For over a decade, Omnira Institute has woven together African spirituality, social justice, and cultural resilience by fostering deep connections to African heritage through Lucumí and Ifa traditions, both rooted in West Africa.
Check out Awon Ohun Omnira Choir (Voices of Freedom)'s performance at Oakland's Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 27th.
And watch this whole interview at bit.ly/2020omnira.
Interested in attending a Juneteenth event in California? Visit California has put together a list of statewide Juneteenth celebrations, festivals, and gatherings that can be found at bit.ly/CAjuneteenth.
