Juneteenth
A Juneteenth Reflection During the Jubilee Year of Hope
Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, a significant day marking the emancipation of enslaved Africans in the United States. This day serves as a poignant reminder of our collective history, marked by the brutal realities of slavery, struggles for freedom, and the enduring spirit of resilience that defined our ancestors. In the spirit of the Jubilee year, a time traditionally associated with liberation, restoration, and renewal, we honor the memory and courage of those who fought for their freedom and paved the way for future generations.
Juneteenth – Together Let Us Celebrate Our True Freedom in Christ
On Juneteenth, June 19, 2024, at noon EDT (USA and Canada) join the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) and the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in the Celebration of the Eucharist as we reflect on Christ as the Source of our true freedom. The Celebrant is Rev. Barthelemy Bazemo, MAfr, a Priest with the Missionaries of Africa and AFJN Board Member. This hybrid event is open to all.
Juneteenth – A Time To Reflect, Rejoice and Remember
Juneteenth is a holiday of hope. A time to ease the pain, the anger and the sadness around continued racial injustice in the United States. An opportunity for us all to work to do better for ourselves, our friends and colleagues, our communities, and our children.
Juneteenth: A time of celebration and reflection
AFJN encourages all Americans and people of goodwill to use this day to reflect on our shared Christian calling for racial equity and find ways to take action in our own communities. As we celebrate this moment, let us also take the time to reflect that this is more than a celebration. It is a day of remembering. A day of honoring. A day of giving thanks. And yes, it is a day of talking about what is happening right now.
Juneteenth 2021 – A US Federal Holiday
Today we celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest celebration of emancipation of African Americans from slavery in the United States. Beginning in Galveston Texas, it is now celebrated every year on June 19th. In 2021, President Joe Biden signed a federal law making it a federal holiday. Unfortunately slavery is still taking place in different forms: compelled service, oppression, involuntary servitude, debt bondage, forced labor, and human trafficking.
