06/19/2025
Juneteenth is more than just a day!
It was a declaration of freedom, driven by a marathon of courageous leaders who believed that as loud as our enslavement, so should be the recognition of our collective liberation.
One after the other, these changemakers in their respective eras, held strong to their convictions and, as one would a baton, passed it over to the next one until ALL their dreams had been realized…. Such as the likes of
📍 Rev. Ronald V. Myers Sr., founder of the National Juneteenth Observance Foundation, who tirelessly worked to make Juneteenth a national holiday, traveling to Washington, D.C. for over 20 years to lobby lawmakers…
📍 Al Edwards, founder of Juneteenth USA and former Texas State Representative, affectionately known as the "Father of Juneteenth" for his efforts in passing critical legislation that made Juneteenth a state holiday in Texas in 1980…
📍Opal Lee, who we honor as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," a retired teacher and activist who embarked on a walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., at the age of 89 to raise awareness about the need for a national Juneteenth holiday. Her incredible advocacy, including collecting over 1.5 million signatures on a petition, was instrumental in bringing Juneteenth to national recognition. In 2021, she stood alongside President Biden proudly as he signed the bill making Juneteenth — at last — a federal holiday.
Her work continues today and you can join her "walk to DC" by following the link: https://www.opalswalk2dc.com/
This is much more than just a day! It’s a triumphant celebration of a long, long run that was started by so many tenacious and passionate black bodies before you. So drink the drink! Break bread with your loved ones. But never forget what and why all this is for!
Here’s to us! ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾
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