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Dear John,
The 19th day of June marks Juneteenth—or if you know it by its official federal name, Juneteenth National Independence Day.
It’s Freedom Day.
It’s Black Independence Day.
It’s Emancipation Day.
A day to remember the emancipation of enslaved Black Americans. In Texas, we are also called to remember and acknowledge that we were the last state within the confederacy to let go of institutional slavery in 1865.
In 2022, grocery shopping, sleeping in your own bed, playing in your own neighborhood, worshipping in your own congregation, or simply just existing can still be dangerous while Black in America. All while Black voters' voices are silenced at the ballot box through voter suppression laws, and the true history of America is being whitewashed in public school curriculums.
Read our Juneteenth blog [[link removed]]
We've still got so far to go in creating an America that truly offers freedom for ALL. In honor of Juneteenth, we'd like to share what true Black allyship should look like today, and frankly, every day:
*
Read
Black
authors,
historians,
and
documentary
makers;
share
their
work
and
believe
them.


*
Learn
about
Black
history!


*
Challenge
and
educate
others
in
your
spaces
who
haven’t
had
the
opportunity
to
learn
about
Black
history.


*
Show
up
to
school
board
meetings
and
add
your
voice
to
the
conversation
in
support
for
inclusive
lessons.


*
Vote
for
candidates
who
care
about
the
truths
that
unite
us
rather
than
divide
us.


*
Hire
Black
Professionals.
This
involves
recognizing
and
ending
racial
biases
in
hiring,
as
well
as
creating
a
workplace
environment
that
truly
values
diversity
beyond
paperwork.


*
Question
your
own
biases!
As we commemorate Juneteenth, I urge you to go beyond celebration. Listen, learn, act—and remember that when someone calls you in for your behavior, it's not a personal attack. It's an opportunity for you to become a better ally, because examining your own biases will never hurt as much as experiencing actual racism.
In the fight,
[[link removed]]
Caleb Ajinomoh
TFN Communications Coordinator
Donate to the Defend Democracy Fund [[link removed]]
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TFN is a statewide non-partisan, grassroots organization that is building an informed and effective movement working toward equality and social justice.
Texas Freedom Network
P.O. Box 1624
Austin, TX 78767
United States
Phone: (512) 322-0545
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