06/19/2026
On June 19, 1865, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and informed more than 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free.
That day became known as Juneteenth.
Today, we honor the resilience, faith, and determination of those who endured slavery and built futures for generations to come. We also honor Ms. Opal Lee, the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” whose decades of advocacy helped make Juneteenth a federal holiday so this history would be recognized and remembered across the nation.
May we remember the past, celebrate the progress made, and continue the work of building a more just future even during these difficult times.
Happy Juneteenth and I swear I would be Black in every lifetime.
