Faith, Freedom, and Juneteenth

Happy Juneteenth everyone! Yes, I do mean everyone. For those who may not know, Juneteenth is the commemoration of the day in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston, TX finally learned of their emancipation – two and a half years after the fact. If you’re wondering why I’m writing about Juneteenth on my faith-based coaching blog, it’s because of the obvious – I’m a Black American, but not just that, I also believe Juneteenth is for everyone.

The delayed announcement of freedom for those who were still enslaved in Galveston after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863 is a profound metaphor for what many of us still experience today: freedom promised, but not fully realized. However, Juneteenth represents more than a delayed report or a slow rolling mail coach; it is a symbol of the continuing fight for justice. Juneteenth honors the resilience of a people who have been oppressed, suppressed and denied their full humanity and participation in society.

Juneteenth is not just the commemoration of a historical event. It is a spiritual wake-up call. It is a reminder that “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). Personal freedom? Yes, indeed but as people of faith, we also know that freedom is not just personal, it is communal. The path to liberation is formed when we collectively lock arms and pursue a better tomorrow. God’s justice is not only for individuals but for communities, for nations, for systems.

Black Americans and other people of color have systematically been subjected to many forms of oppression—slavery, segregation, redlining, mass incarceration, unequal education, economic exclusion, just to name a few. These injustices are not just relics of the past; they have evolved and persist in many different forms to this day. The effects of systemic oppression can only be undone by honoring everyone’s history as American history and acknowledging the intentional inequities that muzzle the voices and mangle the lives of those who have been labeled “other”.

While we must take a moment to reflect on the painful legacy of Juneteenth, it is also an opportunity to recommit ourselves to dismantling the structures that continue to hold people back. It may have originated as a Black American holiday, but the lessons of Juneteenth apply to everyone. Freedom loses its meaning if it excludes anyone and is not shared equally with everyone. When any one group is oppressed, then liberty and justice will remain the empty promises many of us know them to be.

As Kingdom people, we are called to be light in a world that is dark with the heaviness of injustice. Juneteenth is an invitation. It is a summons to not only celebrate how far we have come, but it also beckons us into a deeper understanding of what freedom truly means. It is the birthright of every human being regardless of skin color, economic status or sexual preference.

Jesus came to “proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1). If we name ourselves as children of the Most High God, then we are co-laborers in this mission. It calls us to stand with those who have been excluded, those who have borne the generational weight of racism, those who have suffered from inequities that have hindered success.

While Juneteenth is rooted in the Black American experience, it carries truth and purpose for us all. Celebrating Juneteenth together is a way of saying: “We see you. We honor the God in you. We honor what God has brought you through and we will continue to walk with you toward the fullness of justice".

Juneteenth is for everyone because:

• We are called to unity: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

• We are called to love our neighbors as ourselves (Mark 12:31), including those whose stories and struggles differ from our own.

• We are called to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

So, as we prepare to commemorate Juneteenth, take time to learn, listen, reflect and act. Attend events, support Black-owned businesses, read stories from voices that have long been silenced, and push for policies that expand equity and inclusion in your community and this nation.

Freedom is not a limited resource. The more we ensure it for others, the stronger it becomes for all of us. Juneteenth is more than a holiday it’s an invitation to help build the Kingdom of God on earth until we all are free. And that is something worth celebrating.