By Rev. Harriet Bradley, DFLA Director of African American Outreach & President of DFL Georgia

Even though I am an African American, as well as my father being raised in Dallas, Texas, it has just been in the past several years that I have learned about Juneteenth.

Over the weekend, I attended a Juneteenth celebration. I noticed that people were proud to celebrate Juneteenth. Wherever I would walk in Atlanta, people would say, “Happy Juneteenth.” I could sense they feel that they are celebrating personal liberation.

What exactly is Juneteenth?

It is the celebration to 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 that freed the slaves.

As I began to imagine how the former slaves felt about their newfound freedom, I could relate to how they celebrated, not only as an African American, but as a Christian who has experienced a new life when I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

New life! New opportunity!

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 life of the unborn.

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 for a child to know that they have been given the opportunity to excel.

As I wear my Juneteenth t-shirt on Juneteenth, I will celebrate the freedom of slaves here in the United States by using that freedom to see equality for all!

Happy Juneteenth!