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Senate unanimously passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday!!

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The Senate has unanimously passed a bill to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday.

Juneteenth, which takes place annually on June 19, marks the true end of slavery in the United States. It commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union Army General Gordon Granger proclaimed freedom from slavery in the state of Texas, nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. The holiday has been celebrated in 47 states and the District of Columbia, but now, if passed through the Senate, will be recognized on a national level.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., made the motion to pass the legislation, and no other senator objected. Earlier on Tuesday, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis. - who blocked the bill from passing last year - dropped his objection to the holiday.

"While it still seems strange that having taxpayers provide federal employees paid time off is now required to celebrate the end of slavery, it is clear that there is no appetite in Congress to further discuss the matter," Johnson said in a press release. "Therefore, I do not intend to object."

The bill now goes to the House. If it passes, Juneteenth will become the 11th federal holiday. Sen. John Cornyn and Rep. Sheila Jackson, both of Texas, first proposed the bill last summer amid national protests over the murder of George Floyd, but it did not garner enough support.

Cornyn tweeted his response to the passing of the bill, writing: "Happy that my bill to recognize Juneteenth as a national holiday just passed in the Senate. It has been a state holiday in Texas for more than 40 years. Now more than ever, we need to learn from our history and continue to form a more perfect union."

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Senate unanimously passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday

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Juneteenth, which takes place annually on June 19, marks the true end of slavery in the United States.

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Please help ACC Library Services celebrate Juneteenth! Check out this months Virtual Display!!  Juneteenth: Before & After

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https://sites.google.com/austincc.edu/juneteenthdisplay/home

https://researchguides.austincc.edu/c.php?g=1155149&p=8431519

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ACC Libraries has put together a virtual display of resources related to this history and legacy of this celebration -- Juneteenth: Before & After

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Check out @atx_barrio_archive on IG, a "community archive celebrating the culture & history of Austin's Black & Brown barrios." :)

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View this a place to explore the current events for Juneteenth and to see a little bit of the past. This also where you can find the Livestream and MySL link to the event!

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Roller Skating made a huge comeback this past year. We need to remember where it came from and the people that do it with SOUL. Roller Skating IS Black Culture!!

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Roller Skating made a huge comeback this past year. We need to remember where it came from and the people that do it with SOUL. Roller Skating IS Black Culture!!

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"Bounce, Rock, Skate, Roll" By Vaughan Mason & Crew

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"Food, community, culture, resiliency. Based on Jessica B. Harris’ award-winning book, High On The Hog traces the moving story of a people's survival and triumph via the food that has knit generations together and helped define the American kitchen. From Gumbo to fried chicken, our culinary journey stretches from Africa to enslavement, to the Harlem Renaissance, up to our present-day; we celebrate the courage, artistry, and resourcefulness of the African American people. This is not just an African American story; it’s an American story. A feast for all the senses. "

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High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America | Official Trailer | Netflix

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Sweet Print Art

The Fourth of July has nothing on Juneteenth.

On this day in 1865, our ancestors in Galveston, Texas were informed of the abolishment of slavery two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, marking the ending of slavery for all of our people.

Today, we celebrate this victory in a major way while acknowledging the journey and hardships we've faced since then.

These Juneteenth t-shirts serve not only as fashion statements but as notices to the world that we know where we come from and therefore, we know where we're going.

If you're looking for a way to celebrate this special day, the search is over!

Shop our favorite shirts below!

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It's Juneteenth! Here Are The T-Shirts You Need to Celebrate Our Freedom In Style | Essence

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The Fourth of July has nothing on Juneteenth. On this day in 1865, our ancestors in Galveston, Texas were informed of the abolishment of slavery two years after the Emancipation [...]

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLnS4Bll62U

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https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/marsha-p-johnson-transgender-rights-trailblazer-n1006886

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https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/30/nyregion/storme-delarverie-early-leader-in-the-gay-rights-movement-dies-at-93.html

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Storme DeLarverie, Early Leader in the Gay Rights Movement, Dies at 93 (Published 2014)

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For decades, Ms. DeLarverie roamed Greenwich Village and areas nearby, looking for any form of intolerance as a self-appointed guardian of lesbians.

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"The next time a woman of whatever color, or a dark-skinned person of whatever sex aspires to be president, the way should be a little smoother because I helped pave it."- Shirley Chisholm 

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"The next time a woman of whatever color, or a dark-skinned person of whatever sex aspires to be president, the way should be a little smoother because I helped pave it."- Shirley Chisholm 

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Remember her name!

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As we struggle remember what Pac said, "Keep ya Head up"

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As we struggle remember what Pac said, "Keep ya Head up"

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Where were you when Amanda Gorman spoke truth!

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Where were you when Amanda Gorman spoke truth!

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Inaugural poet Amanda Gorman delivers a poem at Joe Biden's inauguration

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Meet Miss and Little Miss Juneteenth Day 2020

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Seeing our Black heroes develop on screen

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Seeing our Black heroes develop on screen

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If you haven't checked out the Falcon and the Winter Soldier please do! Great conversation about Black heroes, Black people, and their complicated relationship with America.

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Our Board of Directors, in a unanimous decision, voted to recognize Juneteenth, celebrated on June 19, as a paid organization holiday beginning this June 2021. As SOS Illinois honors Black History with a series of activities and events beginning this month that will extend throughout the year, this forward-looking move by the Board reaffirms the organization's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

History of Juneteenth

Juneteenth marks the day when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed, which came a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Honoring Juneteenth is more complicated than just recognizing the emancipation of slaves in the U.S. It is a day to continue fighting to end racism in the U.S. that prevents equity, creates disproportionate suffering, and harms Black adults and children across the globe. As an organization, SOS Illinois is committed to continued education and advocacy to seek justice, fairness, and lasting freedom.

The SOS Illinois Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Our CEO Tim McCormick shared, "We hope by taking this step, we can intentionally encourage and stimulate conversations on the important collective memory of our nation of the impact and cost of racial slavery in America. In so many ways, such an action creates the necessary space for purposeful conversations not just of the racial past, but also to move forward and discover solidarity among each of us." Tim continued, "The work of our Racial Justice Committee continues to uplift and support this very notion, that as we care for children in foster care, we too can make meaningful contributions to act on behalf of all of those whose lives are treated with biases and oppression."

As our Villages and services continue to care for children and families of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, SOS Illinois is making the commitment to do more to provide diversity and inclusion training, workshops, and education for our Foster Parents and staff. As Chicago continues to be a primary focal point in the fight to eradicate racism - especially racism that affects Black children and adults - we recognize that it is important now more than ever to unify as a force aligned with anti-racism efforts in our city and beyond.

"The SOS Illinois Board of Directors knows we play a critical role in creating an organization that prioritizes, supports, and invests in diversity, inclusion, and equity," shared SOS Illinois Board President Jim Wolfe. "By designating Juneteenth as a holiday for the organization, we establish a precedent that at every level of the organization, we advocate for social justice reforms both within the organization and surrounding communities."

The SOS Illinois Racial Justice Committee

Established in May of 2020, the SOS Illinois Racial Justice Committee is working to shed light on the systems of inequity that disproportionately impact people of color, socioeconomic deprivation, poor education, and lack of access to resources. The committee has been working behind the scenes to determine the best approach SOS Illinois can take to address the issues the organization faces today, in particular working to reunite families.

"It has been an honor to see the work the Committee has done thus far," stated SOS Illinois Board Member Tarrah Cooper-Wright. "This group of staff members and Foster Parents are pushing boundaries in order to identify the areas of greatest need within our organization and surrounding communities to address racial bias and intolerance. Even more so, the committee has been courageous in creating opportunities for culture-sharing and respectful conversation without shying away from uncomfortable topics that are the groundwork to real and lasting change."

The SOS Illinois Racial Justice Committee's first initiatives have been to develop Black History Month activities aimed at educating staff and children in its care, as well as a larger project focused on developing a parent handbook that will be provided to birth parents, Foster Parents, and parents in communities served through our programs and services. The handbook will address topics such as: educating parents about their legal rights; training on navigating the court system & DCFS; and advising on utilizing community resources.

SOS Illinois believes that issues of diversity, racial inequality, and justice are crucial for all children in foster care. To learn more - read about Why Black History Month Matters for Children in Foster Care.

Championing SOS Illinois' Young Dreamers

Join us in nurturing the children in our care further toward their aspirations and full potential. Learn more about becoming an SOS Children's Villages Illinois Dream Maker.

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SOS Illinois Board of Directors Makes Juneteenth an Official Organization Holiday - SOS Children's Villages Illinois

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On behalf of SOS Illinois and the Racial Justice Committee, we are honored to celebrate the history, stories, and voices of Black people. The celebratory month also known as National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by Black Americans, and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in the story of the United States of America.

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Feel free to post photos, videos, and other items that display what Juneteenth means to you!