Juneteenth: Celebrating Freedom + Resilience
Embracing Juneteenth | Celebrating Freedom + Resilience
Culture is embedded in everything we do at Morales Group, and understanding Juneteenth is essential to our mission of building better futures. This day is not just a holiday but an opportunity to reflect, educate, and unite in the spirit of freedom and resilience. Throughout this blog we’ll provide background behind Juneteenth, its significance, and ways you can get involved and show support.
What is Juneteenth?
Juneteenth marks the day when Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, with news that the Civil War had ended and enslaved individuals were now free. This announcement came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had officially abolished slavery in Confederate states effective January 1, 1863. The delayed news of freedom reaching Texas underscores the complexities and challenges of emancipation in different parts of the country. Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. talks facts vs. fiction. He mentions how only about 500,000 enslaved men and women actually got their freedom from the Emancipation Proclamation, compared to roughly 3.9 million African-American slaves projected in the United States.
Today Juneteenth, or June 19th, is officially known and federally recognized as ‘Freedom Day’.
The Significance of Juneteenth
Juneteenth stands as a powerful symbol of freedom and resilience for African Americans. It represents the end of the institution of slavery in the United States and celebrates the long-awaited realization of freedom for enslaved individuals. Beyond its historical roots, Juneteenth is a day of reflection, remembrance, and rejoicing in the progress made toward racial equality and justice.
At Morales Group Staffing, we recognize the importance of Juneteenth as a time to reflect on our shared history and to celebrate the resilience and achievements of African Americans in our community and beyond. To commemorate this day, both of our divisions Morales Group Staffing + Acción Performance, close for business. We believe it’s important to encourage everyone to learn more about Juneteenth, engage in meaningful dialogue, and continue fostering an inclusive and equitable society.
How To Get Involved
Engaging with Juneteenth through educational and cultural activities is crucial for fostering awareness and continuing the conversation of its significance. We’ve gathered some useful resources to help educate and show your support locally in Indiana + Greater Louisville area. Here are some ways you can participate and deepen your knowledge.
Watch and Learn: For our movie + documentary lovers, see some of these culturally-infused options below.
- Do the Right Thing by Spike Lee explores racial tensions in a Brooklyn neighborhood.
- The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a poignant story about identity and belonging.
- Netflix’s High on the Hog explores African American culinary history.
- Chi-Raq and Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom provide deeper insights into African American culture and history.
Read and Reflect: Take a deep-dive into the history through these textual lenses.
- Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates offers a powerful letter to his son about race in America.
- Without Sanctuary presents a chilling photographic history of lynching in America.
- The Color of Law by Richard Rothstein exposes the history of housing segregation in the U.S.
Community Events: Participating in community events not only celebrates Juneteenth but also strengthens our connection to the community and honors the history of African American culture:
- Indianapolis:
- Anderson:
- Lafayette:
- Columbus:
- Louisville:
Supporting Black-Owned Businesses: Your support helps promote economic equality and fosters community development, essential steps in addressing historical and systemic injustices.
- Indianapolis:
- Anderson:
- Lafayette:
- Columbus:
- Louisville:
Our Commitment
As Morales Group will be closed on June 19, 2024, to observe Juneteenth. We encourage everyone to join us in commemorating Juneteenth, reflecting on our collective history, and advocating for a more equitable future. Together, we can build better futures, one story at a time.
