Juneteenth@160 is a unique opportunity for all communities to gather, celebrate, and learn. BSNM has a special focus on youth, educators, history enthusiasts, and lifelong learners so that we, the people, develop a more meaningful understanding of the historical context of Juneteenth. The Emancipation Proclamation’s essence was to free all formerly enslaved African Americans; however, in Texas, news and freedom arrived late. Juneteenth was the catalyst to emancipation for all African Americans, including those in Texas. The 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments cemented the road to citizenship.

Since the late 19th Century and to the present, Juneteenth has been a time of celebration, reflection, and empowerment in the African American community, which has evolved into the Federal Holiday that it is today. Through the 19th and 20th Centuries, Juneteenth has been revered throughout the African American community as well as other communities far and wide in the United States. In 2021, with the leadership of the Late Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, Juneteenth became the 11th Federal Holiday. While we, the American community, embrace and support the nationwide observances, we are also mindful to shine a light on the rich, as well as ghastly, history of Juneteenth, its impact on African Americans and all Americans, and the unique roles of Texas, the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and the Buffalo Soldiers.

The event will anchor Juneteenth in its historical context and center the Emancipation Proclamation as a moment in time and as the start of a reckoning toward the true creed of liberty and justice for all, which remains in process.