It is a day to reflect on the hard work still to be done and to remember that the fight for freedom and equality is a tireless one that demands constant work.
Today marks the 157th anniversary of Juneteenth, the day when the news of abolition finally reached enslaved Black people in Texas — a full two and a half years after the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Juneteenth is a day to honor and celebrate Black freedom and Black resistance. It is a day to reflect on the hard work still to be done and to remember that the fight for freedom and equality is a tireless one that demands constant work — from every single one of us.
I have been on a long journey to grow and learn — I am still learning. One thing I do know, as civil rights activist Fannie Lou Hammer said, “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.”
Personally, I will be spending this Juneteenth continuing to uplift the Black political leaders that I have supported via my work at The Next 50, learning more about Black history in my community, and exploring the ways I can support the ongoing fight for racial justice — both in my daily life and as a potential member of Congress.
Thanks for reading,
Zak
