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What do people NOT know about #Juneteenth? President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was signed on Jan 1, 1863 as a military strategy. The Proclamation proclaimed it legal for Black men to serve in the federal military, making all the difference in the Civil War. Black men had organized and trained themselves to fight from the very start, but they were turned away until the Union was desperate enough to enlist them and to free the slaves in rebel states. Black women also played a critical role as volunteers, scouts, and spies. The 29th Colored Infantry Regiment defeated General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox in April 1865 and ended the Confederacy. But we never learn about the 29th Colored Regiment, nor do we talk about Black contributions to winning the Civil War and saving the Union. After much resistance, two and a half years after Lincoln's Proclamation, Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery on June 19, 1865. Slavery was abolished, officially, via the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865. Juneteenth represents not only the belated freedom for enslaved people in Texas but also symbolizes the broader struggle for emancipation and equality for all African Americans. It serves as a reminder that the deep-rooted injustices of slavery and the lingering legacy of #systemicracism and oppression still exist. Juneteenth is also symbolic of resiliency, perseverance, strength, triumph, and belief in the human spirit. Across the nation, African American communities honor their ancestors' unique fight for freedom, ❤️celebrate their rich cultural heritage and achievements, while enabling all Americans to reflect on this shared history and the path toward racial justice and equality❤️ Juneteenth became the nation's 12th legal federal holiday in 2021. Thank you Kimberly Sanders and Stantec's BLK ERG for sharing resources and insight to help us better understand and celebrate this important event. #BetterTogether

Today is Juneteenth. A celebration of freedom. It commemorates the end of slavery. It was on this day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, when the state’s enslaved African Americans learned of their freedom; over two years after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. Let the significance of today inspire us all to build a more equitable and just world. #juneteenth2024

Ernest Crim III tells the story of emancipation the way every educational institution and every religious organization ought to present it. The plain-sight fact we must all face is that a false narrative has been sustained across eight generations by institutional powers that deny the whole truth. The reason why the vast majority of White Americans don't know their own true history is because they actively hide the truth of the behaviors of those White men they revere while erasing the extraordinary feats of bravery, strategy, intellect and determination of Black people who were the principal reason the Confederacy lost. That erasure is plain-sight evidence today of a national effort to sustain willful ignorance across the landscape of White America, which boasts its love of White freedom while relegating Black freedom to the back of the freedom celebration bus each year. W.E.B. Du Bois wrote "Black Reconstruction in America: 1860-1880" and told the story in great detail. But K-12 schools today, including those led by Black educators, don't use this timeless contribution to understanding the truth about the Civil War and its aftermath. The last chapter is titled, "The Propaganda of History" and Du Bois reveals specifically the names of white supremacists who created the false narratives that White America still indoctrinates all children under its influence to believe today. To counter this false narrative, there must be a complete overhaul of the K-12 course of history, social studies, civics and economics in every school. Until then, we must elevate critical voices like Ernest Crim III and others who tell the unvarnished truth about America and her two-tiered celebration of the sacrosanct belief in FREEDOM.

Learning is always good.

On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered his Emancipation Proclamation, proclaiming the end of chattel slavery in the United States. In practice, however, slavery continued to be practiced throughout the Confederacy as the American Civil War waged on. Actual emancipation largely relied on the advance of the Union Army to enforce the proclamation. Over two years later, Union Army General Gordon Granger and his troops advanced on Texas, the last stronghold of institutional slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, General Granger issued General Order No. 3, informing the people of Texas that all slaves were to be immediately set free. The enforcement of this order officially marked the end of slavery in the United States, and this event is commemorated by the holiday Juneteenth. Today, 157 years later, we celebrate Juneteenth as a defining moment in American History. While it marks the end of slavery in the United States, Black Americans still face systemic discrimination, racism, and injustice in many aspects of daily life. Juneteenth reminds us of the urgent need for justice and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion. JLD is proud to celebrate Juneteenth and to continue to promote these ideals in our practice. #Juneteenth #AmericanHistory #FreedomDay #BlackHistory #CelebrateFreedom #JusticeForAll #JLDProud #CommemorateJuneteenth #JLDCostConsulting

Lincoln didn’t free “the slaves” and Gordon Granger, was accompanied by as many as 10,000 Black Union troops when he delivered the message of freedom in Texas on Juneteenth. So, let’s get it right this Juneteenth, y’all. Aight, so when the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted on January 1st, 1863, it only applied to the Confederate States, which was a different country. Also, it didn’t “free” any Black folks in border states who remained with the Union. States like Missouri, Kentucky, Delaware and Maryland still enslaved us. Secondly, Lincoln didn’t fight in the war, so that freedom was contingent upon those Black soldiers helping the Union win the war; which they did. If they didn’t win, the Confederacy would’ve been maintained. And let’s not act like Black people hadn’t been freeing themselves since 1526, since Stono, since Nat Turner, since Harriet Tubman. What the Emancipation Proclamation provided was a dangling carrot that said, if you help maintain the Union, we might help secure your freedom as an institution. Aight, now let’s get to Union General Gordon Granger who delivered news of the Emancipation Proclamation on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, TX. He did a great thing, but he also came with about 10,000 Black Union troops who went throughout Texas to enforce the proclamation and freedom. Because yo, there is no freedom for us without military enforcement. Why don’t we talk about brothas who accompanied him like Sergeant Major Minkins, for example? So, on this Juneteenth, let’s shed light on Black freedom fighters who first freed themselves and fought for our freedom, and the 28th Indiana, 29th Illinois, and combined New York 26th and 31st Regiments of the U.S. Colored Troops. Let’s get it right. 🚨 If you want access to College Board’s Black Studies course, (which is being banned as we speak) to learn more facts like this, check out the link in my comments and let’s get this at your local school! #collegeboard #apush #advancedplacement #juneteenth #lincoln #slavery #freedom #blackhistory #ushistory #racism #texas #dei #antiracism

As we come to a close to Black History Month, know that Black History should be celebrated all year. Ally’s and DEI champions, I too encourage you to continue the journey with your knowledge and understanding that the work continues. People of color need you more now than ever as the article reflects financial equity gaps that goes back for centuries. #BlackHistoryMonth #DiversityandInclusion #FinancialEquity

What is Juneteenth? How can you honor this holiday? What can you do in your community? Learn more below ↘️

Juneteenth is an important day in American history, commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and that all enslaved people were now free. This announcement came over two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which had officially abolished slavery in the confederate states. As we mark this significant milestone, it is essential to remember that the fight for freedom and justice for all continues. Juneteenth serves as a reminder that progress can be slow and uneven and that we must remain vigilant in our efforts to combat systemic racism and discrimination. At Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, my team is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive work environment where everyone feels valued and respected and advocating for ongoing change. We recognize that diversity and inclusion are essential to our success and a culture of belonging allows our team to be seen, heard, and valued. As we celebrate Juneteenth, let us continue our commitment to promoting equality and justice for all. Together, we can build a better future for ourselves and future generations 💙 #Juneteenth #Freedom #Justice #Diversity #Inclusion #Belonging

Black history is American history. February is Black History Month and each week of this month our team will be posting a profile of an inspiring Black American we think you should know about! Today we would like to acknowledge Colin Powell. His autobiography "My American Journey" and "the Powell Doctrine", a principle that "posits that the United States should only go to war as a last resort with a clear and obtainable objective and exit strategy, and with overwhelming force and strong domestic and international support." This is a compelling, principled way to make a decision and commit oneself to results. In [a] 2011 NPR interview, Powell was asked about his doctrine and [h]e replied: "Well, the Powell doctrine ... isn't a doctrine in any Army manual. It's just the way in which I looked at military operations — says make sure you have a clear political objective and make sure you bring all the tools of national power to bear — economic, financial, political and military, if necessary. And if you find it necessary to use military force, send in a force that will get you decisive results. I never used overwhelming but decisive. You know what you're going after and you're going to put the force behind it." He is remembered for many things - the Kuwait war, his briefing to the UN Security Council about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and his efforts to rebuild the military in a post-Vietnam era. Like all of us, he has had successes and failures. https://bit.ly/3SYZUdA