Join HSPRD in honoring Juneteenth, a day commemorating when enslaved Black people were finally informed of their freedom on June 19, 1865, over two years after the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation. Communities have celebrated Juneteenth since the late 1800s, but the federal government only recently designated Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021, after years of advocacy lead by trailblazers like Opal Lee. Earlier this year, Lee, widely known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her commitment to achieving federal recognition of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a day of celebration, but it must also serve as a reminder of the systematic racism and oppression that Black people in our nation continue to face. We reflect on the progress that has been made and on all that remains to be done to fix racial injustices. HSPRD honors Juneteenth by renewing our commitment to combat white supremacy and work toward an anti-racist society.
