Juneteenth 2023

Over the weekend, Juneteenth celebrations took center stage throughout communities in Washington, amplifying the significance of Black freedom and independence.

In an effort to address historic racial injustice, a U.S. Army base in western Louisiana has been renamed to honor the heroic legacy of Sgt. William Henry Johnson, an African American soldier who displayed extraordinary bravery during World War I.

Opal Lee, a distinguished civil rights activist and educator, affectionately known as the "Grandmother of Juneteenth," played a pivotal role in advocating for the national recognition of Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is an opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the past, but for our region’s elected officials it must also serve as an important reminder of just how far we have to go.

Distortion of history is a familiar tool of white supremacy, from the “Lost Cause” mythology that Black Americans had been content – even fortunate -- to live under a system of oppression, to the “anti-woke” mythology that the system of oppression doesn’t exist.  

Experts say the injustice doled out to generations of Black people in the nation’s K-12 schools needs to be atoned for — and they’re taking their cues from California.

Black California residents born between 1953 and 1996 explain how getting monetary compensation for racial harms could shape their lives.

Figuring out where public education fits in reparations is crucial. To get it right, we need the perspective of Black children and teens.

Experts say Black communities deserve money — as well as green spaces, clean water, and new infrastructure.

In 2021, the Senate unanimously passed legislation to make Juneteenth (June 19) a federal holiday. It is unlikely that this legislation would get such overwhelming support today, as so many oppose teaching truth.