Black Lives Matter on Juneteenth and Every Day
June 19 is the day that Union General Gordon Granger read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, Texas, granting freedom to all slaves in Texas (Texas was the last state to put the proclamation into action, two and a half years after its declaration).
S:US acknowledges this important day and our collective commitment to promote racial equity. We are on the ground advancing a social justice agenda despite societal roadblocks, helping people change the narrative of their lives for the better. We do this by providing and supporting access to housing, employment, education, mental health care, and treatment and recovery services. We create opportunities that generate permanent, positive change in the lives of thousands of our city’s most underserved individuals and families.
Juneteenth also reminds us of the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Black communities in our city, our state, and across our country. We believe strongly that Black lives matter – those of our staff, the people we serve, and all Black people. View selected resources and ways to commemorate Juneteenth.
Juneteenth Resources
JUNETEENTH.com promotes unity, freedom, achievement and self-esteem through the celebration of Juneteenth across the nation and beyond.
Juneteenth Celebration at Alice Austen House Museum (NYC Parks) Enjoy performances in Staten Island on June 19, 2021 1-4PM.
Juneteenth NYC 2021 (Juneteenth NY) Enjoy a 3-day summit online or in person on June 18-20, 2021 10AM- 6PM to celebrate the community through empowerment, health and wellness, education, and entertainment.
So You Want to Learn About Juneteenth? (New York Times) On June 19, 1865, enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free. A century and a half later, the celebration continues to resonate in new ways, given the sweeping changes and widespread protests across the U.S. over the last year and following a guilty verdict in the killing of Mr. Floyd.
Teaching Juneteenth (Learning for Justice) The history of Juneteenth acknowledges a hard past while also empowering students to be advocates for change.
Why celebrating Juneteenth is more important now than ever (Vox.com) An interview with Karlos Hill, a professor of African and African-American studies at the University of Oklahoma and the author of Beyond the Rope: The Impact of Lynching on Black Culture and Memory.