Racial Justice Ministries and Join the Movement toward Racial Justice invite you to encounter and engage with stories of abolition movements from the early days of enslaved peoples’ resistance to the Civil Rights Movement to the more recent struggles of the Movement for Black Lives, and more. These ongoing movements of emancipation can show us the power of intergenerational leadership – from elders to youth and young adults – as together we move toward solidarity, freedom, equity, and liberation. Our Juneteenth celebration features intergenerational storytelling highlighting lessons and strategies of community building and movement-making toward deep solidarity and collective liberation.  Explore reflections, resources, worship materials, and videos from movement leaders here starting in June.

Oral history is a way to preserve and remember sacred moments and movements of a people’s history and lived experiences. Stories are best remembered when they are told by elders and Griots, as well as stories with wisdom from youth and children. African-centered traditions value storytelling as sacred for the survival and thriving of generations to come. We who believe in freedom shall tell our stories for the thriving of our children and our children’s children. We remember the marches, sit-ins, food secure programs, rallies, and strategies of defense across the nation to honor, respect, and protect Black Lives. – Rev. Dr. Velda Love

Emancipation Day in Texas, also known as Freedom Day, became an official holiday in the State of Texas in 1980. President Joe Biden officially signed into Law Juneteenth as a National Day of Remembrance, June 17, 2021.