06/19/2026
Today is a celebration of freedom, resilience, and Black joy. It is also a bittersweet reminder that freedom was delayed.
On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas finally received news of emancipation, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. For many, Juneteenth is both a celebration and a reminder of delayed justice, delayed truth, and delayed recognition.
That truth matters deeply in foster care.
We applaud adults of all races who open their homes and hearts to love and care for children. But when white foster or adoptive parents are raising Black children, love must include more than safety and shelter.
Love must include culture.
Love must include truth.
Love must include humility, listening, and learning.
In Michigan’s child welfare system, children of color are overrepresented in care. Because of that, many foster and foster-to-adopt placements cross racial lines. A loving home is essential, but love alone is not enough to protect a child from the realities of race, identity, bias, and belonging.
Black children deserve to grow up knowing the fullness of who they are.
That means teaching Black history beyond trauma. Celebrating Black excellence and joy. Honoring holidays like Juneteenth. Learning traditions, stories, hair care, skin care, and the everyday ways culture shows up.
It also means preparing children for bias, making sure they are not the only person who looks like them in their school, church, neighborhood, or activities, and being ready to advocate when their dignity is on the line.
Juneteenth reminds us that delayed freedom was still injustice.
So today, our call to foster and adoptive parents is this:
Do not delay justice, knowledge, identity, or culture any longer than it already has been.
Teach the history. Celebrate the culture. Build the village. Listen to Black voices. Honor your child’s whole identity.
Because truly loving a child means loving all of who they are.
