Brown & Brown Absence Services Group’s Post

On “Freedom’s Eve,” or the eve of January 1, 1863, the first Watch Night services took place. On that night, enslaved and free African Americans gathered in churches and private homes all across the country awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. At the stroke of midnight, prayers were answered as all enslaved people in Confederate States were declared legally free. Union soldiers, many of whom were black, marched onto plantations and across cities in the south reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation spreading the news of freedom in Confederate States. Only through the Thirteenth Amendment did emancipation end slavery throughout the United States. But not everyone in Confederate territory would immediately be free. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was made effective in 1863, it could not be implemented in places still under Confederate control. As a result, in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas, enslaved people would not be free until much later. Freedom finally came on June 19, 1865, when some 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas. The army announced that the more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state, were free by executive decree. This day came to be known as "Juneteenth," by the newly freed people in Texas. #freedom #Juneteenth #katy #stafford #houston #houstontx #cypresstx ##missouricitytx

It's never too early to be thinking about #Juneteenth and how your organization can meaningfully observe the holiday. I shared some ideas and best practices on the Equity At Work blog:

Today I recognize Juneteenth Day and provide you with a little history. June 19, 1863 was the day 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas to emancipate more than 250,000 enslaved black people in the state who were the last under Confederate control. Texas, as the most remote state of the former Confederacy, had seen an expansion of slavery because the presence of Union troops was low as the American Civil War ended; thus, the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation had been slow and inconsistent there. To put it into perspective, June 19 was 900 days after the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect from Abraham Lincoln. The post-emancipation period, known as Reconstruction (1865-1877) marked an era of great hope, but also uncertainty and struggle for our nation. In 1996, the first federal legislation was introduced to recognize Juneteenth Day, but it wouldn't become a federal holiday until 2021 when President Joe Biden signed the bill. Until then, it had been recognized as a commemoration or holiday in some US states by 1980, including Texas. Happy Juneteenth, America! #juneteenth #independenceday #america

What do people NOT know about #Juneteenth? President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was signed on Jan 1, 1863 as a military strategy. The Proclamation proclaimed it legal for Black men to serve in the federal military, making all the difference in the Civil War. Black men had organized and trained themselves to fight from the very start, but they were turned away until the Union was desperate enough to enlist them and to free the slaves in rebel states. Black women also played a critical role as volunteers, scouts, and spies. The 29th Colored Infantry Regiment defeated General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox in April 1865 and ended the Confederacy. But we never learn about the 29th Colored Regiment, nor do we talk about Black contributions to winning the Civil War and saving the Union. After much resistance, two and a half years after Lincoln's Proclamation, Union soldiers finally arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of slavery on June 19, 1865. Slavery was abolished, officially, via the ratification of the 13th Amendment in December 1865. Juneteenth represents not only the belated freedom for enslaved people in Texas but also symbolizes the broader struggle for emancipation and equality for all African Americans. It serves as a reminder that the deep-rooted injustices of slavery and the lingering legacy of #systemicracism and oppression still exist. Juneteenth is also symbolic of resiliency, perseverance, strength, triumph, and belief in the human spirit. Across the nation, African American communities honor their ancestors' unique fight for freedom, ❤️celebrate their rich cultural heritage and achievements, while enabling all Americans to reflect on this shared history and the path toward racial justice and equality❤️ Juneteenth became the nation's 12th legal federal holiday in 2021. Thank you Kimberly Sanders and Stantec's BLK ERG for sharing resources and insight to help us better understand and celebrate this important event. #BetterTogether

What makes military veterans effective legislators? They don’t let politics stand in the way of getting stuff done. In 2023, we worked with For Country Caucus members Zach Nunn and Jeff Jackson to get the Reserve Component Parental Leave Parity Act passed through the National Defense Authorization Act. This bill ensures that Reserve and National Guard component service members have access to the same parental leave policies as their active duty counterparts. Both Nunn and Jackson are currently still serving in the Reserves and National Guard, respectively. Because of their shared experiences and commitment to their fellow service members, they were able to put their political differences aside and work together to get the job done. Getting Republicans and Democrats to work together may not be the norm in Washington, but it's the norm for With Honor Action and the bipartisan veterans of the For Country Caucus. Read more about our legislative accomplishments at WithHonor.org.

Juneteenth is observed annually on June 19th, marking the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, Texas, in 1865, when they announced the end of slavery. This proclamation, coming two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, was delayed due to Texas's isolation and resistance. Beginning in Texas, Juneteenth has since become a nationwide celebration honoring freedom, reflecting on African American history, and promoting equality and justice. I'm sharing this post to contribute to awareness and understanding.Apologies for the delayed post on June 22nd 😊#Juneteenth#I! love History#

Juneteenth (known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Liberation Day) is a federal holiday, celebrated annually on June 19th in the US to commemorate Union Army general Gordon Granger announcing federal orders in the City of Galveston on June 19, 1865, proclaiming that all enslaved in Texas were now free. Although the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them almost two and a half years earlier and the American Civil War had ended with the defeat of the Confederate States in April, Texas was the most remote of the slave states, with a low presence of Union troops, so enforcement of the proclamation had been slow and inconsistent. A common misconception is that this day marks the end of slavery in the US. Although this day marks the emancipation of all slaves in the Confederacy, the institution of slavery was still legal and existed in the Union border states after June 19, 1865. Slavery in the US did not officially end until the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the US on December 6, 1865, which abolished slavery in all of the US and its territories. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

Observing Juneteenth: What does this mean? 👇 On June 19th, 1865, the Union Army announced that over 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state of Texas were free by executive decree. Among those freed, the day became known as Juneteenth. We will be observing the Juneteenth federal holiday, also known as Jubilee Day, Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, and Black Independence Day. . . . #juneteenth #juneteenth2024 #celebratefreedom #smallbusinessowners #faithbasedbusiness