June 19, 2021

On this day in 1865 – more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed – those enslaved in Texas were informed that they were free. Juneteenth commemorates the anniversary of the end of centuries of racial slavery in the US, and we applaud President Biden and Congress in making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

However, Juneteenth serves as a reminder we must do more. The painful legacy of slavery is still felt today not only in the form of hate and senseless violence — like the unjustified killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and countless others — but also in the form of systemic societal racism, social injustice and inequities.

Our Fellowship is focusing on eight issues where we can maximize the collective voice of our 100+ organizations to impact policy change. These policies will positively affect access to opportunity, ways of working and the wellbeing of Black Americans across the country in our neighborhoods, classrooms and beyond. We will continue to use our voice to confront the long history of racial inequity and work towards the goals of equality for all.