Happy Juneteenth! This is a celebration that originated in the African American community to honor the day people of African descent forced into slavery received the news that the United States legally acknowledged their freedom.
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863 but many who were enslaved did not receive the news until June 19, 1865. That day is called Juneteenth.
In the spirit of today, we share a Prayer-Study-Action about the Black Lives Matter movement from our Pax Christi Anti-Racism Team (PCART.) Please read and share widely.
Picture above: Juneteenth celebration in Austin, Texas, on June 19, 1900.