Juneteenth celebrates the day that news of the abolishment of slavery reached all parts of the states on June 19th, 1865. As history recounts, the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 did not immediately free all slaves. It took an additional two and a half years for the news to get to Galveston, Texas, in which formerly enslaved African Americans celebrated with prayer and music upon learning of their freedom.
On June 10th, 2021, Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law that formally recognized Junetheenth as a state holiday in Louisiana. It passed unanimously in the House and Senate, which speaks volumes about the understanding of Juneteenth’s importance in history. However, the work does not end here. Much more should be done to take steps to dismantle the systemic racism in Louisiana as well as the rest of America. LifeCity would like to highlight two valuable organizations that work to do as such:
Overcoming Racism - provides race and equity professional development and consultation to partners that aim to create institutions that dismantle systems of oppression that exist in their work and to improve the collective cultural competence of team members.
Beloved Community - implements regional, sustainable solutions for diversity, equity, and inclusion in nonprofits, hospitality services, schools, housing, etc. through individualized and personalized support using an Equity Audit Tool, Equity Lens Map, and capacity-building services.
Ways to celebrate Juneteenth in New Orleans: https://www.neworleans.com/events/holidays-seasonal/juneteenth/
Sources:
https://www.wafb.com/2021/06/07/bill-declare-juneteenth-louisiana-state-holiday-advances-senate/