Juneteenth is Freedom Day, a day we honor the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. We will be closed on Monday, June 20, as the Food Bank believes giving staff the time to honor this American holiday with their families and communities is important to recognizing its meaning and significance.
On June 19, 1865, a Union General rode into Galveston, Texas to announce the Civil War had ended and enslaved Blacks had been freed. Though the Emancipation Proclamation became law in January 1863, it was not recognized, nor enforced in states still under confederate control. It took 2 and a half years for the nearly a quarter of a million enslaved Texans to learn they were FREED. Juneteenth (short for June 19th) marks a significant date in American history. It is a reminder that “nobody is free until everybody is free”. Juneteenth became a federal holiday in 2021.
To learn more about Juneteenth and its significance, we recommend the following resources:
https://www.juneteenth.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FX-Iisvrj8