Juneteenth Call To Action

Juneteenth Call To Action

June 19th is an historic and special day because it marks the end of slavery in the United States.  According to the Juneteenth website, “the celebration of June 19th was coined "Juneteenth" and grew with more participation from descendants. The Juneteenth celebration was a time for reassuring each other, for praying and for gathering remaining family members. Juneteenth continued to be highly revered in Texas decades later, with many former slaves and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on this date.”

As I learned at an early age from parents, the news of slaves being freed was not welcome by all and one state in particular, which was Texas.  Apparently, there was a “delay” in the information being brought to Texas that slaves were free.  Literally, it took over two years for the message of the Emancipation Proclamation to be heard.  [that truly upsets me, but I’ll carry on]  In 1865, there was the surrender of General Lee which brought forth the arrival of General Granger’s in which According to Juneteenth website, his “first orders of business was to read to the people of Texas, General Order Number 3 which began most significantly with:  "The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer."

Juneteenth Call To Action

I’ve seen all over Facebook a “Juneteenth Call To Action” which is encouraging us all to take time to follow the call to action and perform the following task list to help support Historically Black Colleges and Universities.  I encourage you to follow along this call to action.

Research an HBCU

Apply to an HBCU

Transfer to an HBCU

Donate to an HBCU

Celebrate an HBCU

Buy HBCU apparel

Visit an HBCU campus

Lobby for an HBCU

Spotlight HBCU Alums

(Source) For more valuable information from the Juneteenth website, click here.