More Than A Holiday

 "More Than A Holiday"

Dear Friends,

As many of us enjoy a day off from work or potentially use this as a day of service, let us remind ourselves of the history and significance behind Juneteenth. Juneteenth is more than another paid federal holiday that lets us sleep in on a Wednesday. It should serve as a reminder of our past and hope for our future. 

When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st, 1863, all persons held as slaves were technically set free. Except they weren’t. As much of the South was still under Confederate control, hundreds of thousands of people continued to remain in slavery. Over the next two years, Union soldiers, many of whom were black, spread the news across the South by marching into towns and reading small copies of the Emancipation Proclamation. It wasn’t until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19th, 1865 that the final enslaved person was set free. The day became known as Juneteenth. 

For two and a half years, millions of Americans were held as slaves despite it being outlawed. During that time, stories are ubiquitous across the national archives of enslaved people meeting together in churches and various places to encourage one another to never lose hope.

Juneteenth serves as a reminder that the past injustices are no match for the perseverance and hope found in a community set on making a brighter tomorrow. 

At United Way, the brighter tomorrow that we are striving for is one where fewer Americans are subjugated to the ALICE status (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) that threatens them with poverty as prices continue to rise. Black families disproportionately fall into the ALICE status across the country but especially in Georgia. 60% of Black households in Georgia are considered ALICE meaning that they are one unexpected financial expense away from potentially falling into poverty. 

Our goal is to help 15,000 ALICE families across Central Georgia reach financial stability and prevent the slippery slope that leads to poverty. As we embark on this journey, I can’t help but think of the millions of enslaved people in 1863 who chose to hold onto hope for a brighter tomorrow. I hope you will join us. 

Warm regards, 

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