June 19, 1865, commonly known as Juneteenth, is a critical day in American history.
The name is a combination of “June” and “nineteenth,” in honor of the day when Union soldiers, led by General Gordan Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced that tens of thousands of enslaved African Americans could be freed. This closed the door on one of the last and ugliest chapters of slavery in the United States.
This announcement came two-and-a-half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation – a document declaring those enslaved within the confederate states “are and henceforth shall be free.” However, since the proclamation was made during the height of the Civil War, it was ignored until an executive order was enforced after the war.
Juneteenth was celebrated occasionally during the years after the announcement but was revived during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
Often called “Freedom Day” or “Emancipation Day,” Juneteenth is a celebration of equal rights and freedom in the United States.
It is celebrated in African American communities with outside gatherings and family reunions. Many churches commemorate Juneteenth with special services featuring traditional African American music and hymns. Currently, 45 states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday. As of June 17, 2021, Juneteenth has been declared a federal holiday by a nearly unanimous congressional vote and signed into law hours later.
As we advance toward a more equitable and inclusive society, the celebration of equal rights and freedom continues to resonate in new ways. The social unrest we have witnessed in our great land speaks directly to the fact that civil rights and privileges should be shared and experienced equally across racial and ethnic lines. We have a responsibility to acknowledge and include in our nation’s history the history of all Americans.
Juneteenth National Freedom Day, along with the Fourth of July, completes the cycle of freedom for America’s Independence Day observances. Juneteenth commemoration brings balance to America’s freedom celebrations.
At Kids’ Food Basket, our number one core value is working toward equity.
Equity is achieved when everyone has what they need to thrive. Underpinning our mission is the core belief that healthy food is a right; we exist to break down immediate barriers and increase access to healthy, nourishing food so that children and families can thrive.
We acknowledge the impact of structural, historical and institutional racism regarding food equity. We are committed to being an actively equitable and inclusive organization, where every individual who comes through our doors leaves with a greater awareness of food insecurity than they had before. We want to ensure that every volunteer, schoolteacher, child, parent, employee and community member feels seen, valued, empowered, and advocated for.
