Hello,

Juneteenth is a time for us to commemorate that two years after President Lincoln signed and enacted the Emancipation Proclamation, the final enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally freed, marking the end of slavery in our nation. Like many African-Americans, I recognize today as a time to reflect on the strength and struggles of my ancestors, their journey to freedom, and looking toward a brighter future.

Since 2009, Ohio has recognized Juneteenth as a national holiday, and this week Congress passed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday -- and President Biden signed the bill into law. While that step forward is a great one for our nation, it's not a cure for all of the inequality we still see in our country.

Our nation was -- and still is -- far from a truly free and just place. We celebrate Juneteenth every year to shine a light on how far we've come and recognize the work we still have to accomplish moving forward.

Racism is still alive in America, and we see its effects in every aspect of our country, government, and lives. Black people in America still have to overcome barriers designed to uphold injustices -- barriers that create inequality in housing, education, the workplace, and the political system.

As a father, I am working to make our world a more equal and equitable place for my children to live. They deserve a future where they have the same opportunities as all other children. As my parents and grandparents shared with me, I'm taking the time to share the importance of today with them.

I urge you to take a moment to learn about the significance of today's holiday and why we're still fighting for racial equality in 2021.

Thank you,

Malik

Malik Hubbard
Team ODP









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