158 years ago today, the news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached the enslaved Black citizens of Galveston, Texas, more than two years after it was signed by President Lincoln.

Today, we remember our ancestors, who faced despicable injustices, and still had the courage and the will to fight for a future they’d never get to see. They believed that one day, their children would live in a better America.

That belief came true for my great-grandmother.

My great-grandmother, Maebell James, was born just 31 years after the first Juneteenth, in the segregated South. She faced unspeakable tragedy in her life, and eventually our family fled to safety in Maryland, where my sister and I were born and raised. Maebell was always there, a walking example of wisdom, resilience, and dignity.

I can’t tell you how proud she was when I entered law school. The fact that I’m now County Executive would have blown her away – let alone that I’m running for U.S. Senate!

She was a link between past and present who taught me where we came from, what we fought for, and how incredibly far we’ve come. She witnessed America transform beyond imagination.

I believe that our work today will give our own children a beautiful future that we can’t yet see. I remain committed to furthering that progress, and fighting for justice, safety, equality, and freedom for all, regardless of race, gender, class, or creed.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.

– Angela Alsobrooks