On Juneteenth 2023, as President of WARE (Wayne Action for Equality Inc), I had the honor and privilege of delivering the keynote address at the Installation Ceremony of the General Gordon Granger Historical Marker in front of his childhood home in Joy, New York, (a Hamlet of the Town of Sodus, NY). 

Juneteenth (Independence Day or Freedom Day) is the oldest known observance commemorating the end of slavery. Juneteenth is a deeply meaningful holiday for the Black community, representing not just freedom but also the ongoing struggle for equality, equity, and justice.  

At the end of the American Civil War, Granger was given command of the District of Texas. On June 19, 1865, Granger, arriving in Galveston, Texas with 2000 Union Troops, issued and read General Order No. 3 to the people of Texas, informing them that all enslaved people were now free, officially emancipating 250,000 enslaved people. Juneteenth commemorates this day. Juneteenth became a federal holiday on June 17, 2021. 

This year, Juneteenth comes amidst a push to ban the teaching of Black history in schools. It is essential for all students to be able to learn about the resilience of the formerly enslaved. CI joins in the celebration of this important history!

                                     
Happy Juneteenth! 

—Earl Greene, MA, CAMS-1/Fellow
Director of Racial and Social Justice