by Jodi Grass, Head of School

Juneteenth is the day enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, finally learned of their freedom from slavery, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had declared it.

Juneteenth reminds us of what Dr. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. wrote in “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” that “freedom delayed is freedom denied.” It asks us to confront an uncomfortable truth: the declaration of liberty and the lived reality of liberation are not always the same.

Supporting young people to understand themselves, one another, and the world in which they live is critical to social justice work. This requires more than celebrating historical milestones. It requires the willingness to look honestly at what remains unresolved. While Juneteenth commemorates emancipation, it also reminds us that racism, inequity, and the legacy of injustice continue to shape lives and communities today.

Recognizing Juneteenth, and all holidays that honor liberation, is not simply about remembering the past. It is about refusing indifference in the present. It is about cultivating the intelligence, compassion, and responsibility needed to question systems that diminish human dignity and to understand our shared responsibility for creating a more just world.

As Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, civil rights activist, scholar, composer, and founder of Sweet Honey in the Rock, sang in Ella’s Song, written in honor of civil rights leader Ella Baker, “We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it comes.”

Her words remain as relevant today as they were decades ago. The work of liberation is unfinished. It calls on each of us to listen deeply, learn continuously, and meet one another with the care, understanding, and courage required to dismantle racism and the structures that perpetuate inequality and oppression.

Today, we celebrate the resilience, social activism, creativity, and enduring contributions of Black communities. We also reaffirm our commitment to creating a world in which every human being can live with dignity, a sense of belonging, and freedom.

The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth »