Juneteenth Message by Kindra Hill
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Juneteenth Message by Kindra Hill
We thank them for their perseverance and endurance through unfathomable struggles so that we could enjoy the liberties we hold so dear today.
Today as we celebrate Juneteenth, we honor and thank the formerly enslaved persons who jubilantly realized their dreams of freedom had finally come to pass. We thank them for their perseverance and endurance through unfathomable struggles so that we could enjoy the liberties we hold so dear today.
Juneteenth is also a warning for us to safeguard the rights and privileges we currently have to ensure they remain a part of our democracy. I am proud of my daughter, Kindra Hill, who also shared her thoughts about emancipation today.
Please read below.
Juneteenth Messaging from University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
“Every year we must remind successive generations that this event triggered a series of events that one by one defines the challenges and responsibilities of successive generations. That’s why we need this holiday.”– Al Edwards | Politician, Leader of the Juneteenth Texas State Holiday
The UNM Health Sciences Center Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth is a significant moment in American history where on June 19, 1865, after the end of the U.S. Civil War, Union soldiers notified the last 250,000 enslaved African peoples in Galveston, Texas that they were free due to the terms issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863’s Emancipation Proclamation.
Federally declared as “Juneteenth National Independence Day,” the holiday serves as a reminder for us all that we must be steadfast in not just acknowledging, but preserving the principles of hope, resiliency, inspiration, and freedom that were and have been demonstrated for centuries by communities of the Black and African Diaspora in this country. With that said, it would be remiss to ignore the fact it took two additional years after the Emancipation Proclamation for the last enslaved Africans to be liberated in the country.
This holiday serves as a reminder that while progress has been made to ensure all communities in the United States are free, we still must be vigilant to disrupt injustice wherever we see it. We invite everyone to commemorate Juneteenth with reflection and action. What does this holiday mean to you? How can we take action to address issues of systemic and structural inequality, and racial inequality, in our personal and professional lives? Do you feel comfortable speaking with colleagues and friends about what freedom means to them? Why or why not?
As part of our community, let’s join hands to build a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable learning and work environment so that all members feel welcome and valued. We appreciate everything you do, as individuals and as a community, to achieve a free and just world for all.
-By Kindra Hill
This message was originally published, here.
Debra Hill
Debra Hill is an independent inspirational singer, author, songwriter, and writer. As a blind performer, she adds a personal story of God’s faithfulness. Her life exemplifies that Christ’s power will work to lift all regardless of circumstances.
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