Juneteenth (June 19th) is celebrated as the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last group of enslaved black Americans were freed from slavery. Specifically, Juneteenth commemorates an order issued by Major General Gordon Granger, who arrived in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865. The issuing of this order and the arrival of Federal troops in Galveston effectively ended the Civil War and emancipated those confined to a life of slavery. And there’s a local connection to this event. Among the troops arriving in Galveston that day were 17 African American soldiers from Brattleboro as part of the campaign to free the remaining enslaved Americans in that region.
Also known as “Jubilee Day,” Juneteenth is not only a celebration of freedom, but also one of opportunity, equity and access. These values are reflected in WWHT’s focus on mitigating the impact of structural racism through our commitment to our Race, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (REDI) initiative. Access to safe, permanently affordable housing is critical to maintaining diverse, vibrant and inclusive communities, and treating our customers, partners and each other with equity and respect is paramount. We go the extra mile to ensure that community members have access to opportunity, resources and support they need regardless of racial, ethnic or economic disparities.
There are a number of Juneteenth celebration events in towns across Vermont. You can find information on them here.
Happy Juneteenth everyone!
