By Harriet Bradley

This is the third year that Juneteenth became a federal holiday.  What exactly is Juneteenth?  It is the celebration of when Major General Gordon Granger went on June 19, 1865, to Texas with this proclamation that freed the slaves: 

The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves, and the connection, therefore, existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.

Juneteenth is a combined word for June 19.  It took over two years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed the slaves.

My celebration this year has taken on a more active approach. I attended celebrations that not only included food, games, and fun but also provided opportunities for people to register to vote.  Groceries were also given out.  Conversations could be heard about the power of our voice as African Americans to make a difference.

Juneteenth is an opportunity for all of us here with DFLA to not only celebrate the freedom of the slaves but that we continue to fight for the lives of the unborn.  We are supporting legislation to make birth free.  Yes, FREE!!  DFLA supports paid leave so a parent can have time to bond with their child and well as recuperate from giving birth. We continue to fight for women to have adequate healthcare during and after their pregnancy as well as all the support needed to not only deliver a healthy baby but a child that knows that they have been given the opportunity to excel. 

As I wear my Juneteenth t-shirt on Juneteenth, I continue to celebrate the freedom of the slaves here in the United States as well as celebrate using that freedom to use your voice to make a difference!!

Happy Juneteenth!!