juneteenth

Crowded into her ceremonial office with Black leaders from across the state, June 18, Gov. Maura Healey drew their attention to the Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial on the Boston Common below.

After the police murder of George Floyd in 2020, many companies made pledges and promises to embrace diversity, equity and inclusion — which included the acknowledgment of Juneteenth. However, when President Donald J. Trump was voted back into the White House, he issued an executive order to “coordinate the termination” of what he calls “discriminatory programs,” which include “illegal DEI” and “diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility mandates, policies, programs, preferences, and activities.”

Each year millions of people throughout the country celebrate Juneteenth. The holiday, made official in 2021, is the perfect time to uphold sacred traditions and give thanks to the ancestors who have paved the way.

As we gather to celebrate Juneteenth, it is vital to reflect deeply on the historical context surrounding the delayed emancipation of enslaved people in Texas. Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston announcing the enforcement of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, issued more than two years earlier, on January 1, 1863.

When I was growing up, my mom would never miss the Roxbury Homecoming celebration. Even as she got older, we would stake out a spot the night before and return the next day and set up our cooler, food and chairs for the community picnic that’s been taking place in Franklin Park for decades.

In every generation, there are people who want to bury the truth. We are living through one of those times right now.

Next Thursday is Juneteenth, a national celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Boston is showing up to celebrate with concerts, festivals, block parties, and free museum admission around the city.

Juneteenth marks our country’s second Independence Day. That fact in itself calls on us to remember, reflect, and recommit to the principles of our democracy - liberty and justice for all - but ones that we have never fully embodied.

It’s not unusual to see Black children using smartphones or tablets throughout the community, as well as in school or church. But a good number of them return to homes with inadequate or non-existent internet service, where dependable computer access, such as laptops or desk computers, isn’t available.

Wednesday is Juneteenth, a national celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Boston is showing up to celebrate, with parades, festivals, block parties and free museum admission around the city.

Juneteenth celebrations create a wealth of opportunity for the Boston community to celebrate the Black family experience here in Boston. Juneteenth has been celebrated by the Black family going back over a century.

Spring and summer in Boston are short and precious seasons. To take full advantage of the blossoms and warm temps, consider attending one of the diverse festivals taking place across Boston over the next few months.