06/19/2026
Juneteenth is a celebration which, even as it is borne out of a racist past, centers around relishing Black freedom rather than focusing on the fact that the Confederacy prevented the proclamation of that freedom.
This holiday commemorates how the enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, were informed of their freedom on June 19, 1865, more than two months after the end of the Civil War and more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. As we observe this important moment in history, we reflect on the moral failure of slavery and the enduring strength, faith, and contributions of African Americans in our Church and society.
Celebrating Juneteenth is an act of subversive memory—something that contradicts the easy narratives which relegate white supremacy to a few bad actors over the course of American history. It is a subversive memory because the joy of the holiday can only be understood when we acknowledge the reason it exists in the first place.
All are encouraged to participate in meaningful observance of this significant day in American history. Happy Juneteenth!
