Juneteenth is a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. After the Civil War, slaves were declared free under the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers enforced the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all remaining slaves in Galveston, Texas.
“The Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, had established that all enslaved people in Confederate states in rebellion against the Union ‘shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.’” The proclamation did not immediately free all enslaved people. This only applied to instances under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states or areas under Union control.
Emancipation did not happen for everyone overnight. Some enslavers withheld information until after harvest season. Celebrations then broke out across the states and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment. For more information on the history and celebration of Juneteenth, please visit, www.juneteenth.com and https://www.history.com/news/what-is-juneteenth
At Wolverine Human Services, our mission is Helping Children and Families to be Victors. The color of your skin, background, race, religion is valued and makes you who you are.
We value and support our children and families, our staff, our community members, neighbors and friends. There are many community events taking place in celebration of this holiday. Our creative partner, Distinct Life, has been putting on events all week long and we want you to join us with them. Today, June 18th, there will be music, food, games, and giveaways at their Block Party! On Saturday, June 19th, Distinct Life will be having a store Grand Opening along with a Juneteenth Celebration Party! For more information visit www.distinctlife.com
Wolverine is committed to strengthen our celebration and education surrounding Juneteenth as we continue our mission.
Please join WHS as we support one another and recognize this important holiday.