Celebrating Juneteenth with H-E-B
Last year, President Joe Biden officially declared Juneteenth to be a federal holiday, but this special day has been a Texas tradition for much longer. 157 years to be exact. You probably learned about it in your 4th and 7th grade Texas history classes, but for you Texas transplants, here’s the story:
Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, word that all enslaved people were free in the eyes of the law didn’t reach Texas until June 19, 1865. Things didn’t magically get better when Major General Gordon Granger read the Proclamation in Galveston, TX that day, and we’ve still got work to do, but it’s a day to celebrate the ability to recognize a wrong and work to make it right.
Our pals at H-E-B are supporting Juneteenth celebrations all throughout the Lone Star State as part of their shared responsibility and commitment to create lasting change.
Ross Scott, founding member of H-E-B’s first diversity council and a store director with 31 years of service, understands the importance of community connection. His favorite H-E-B community-supported event is Juneteenth, and he leads the region’s partners each year at the MLK Jr. Parade and Festival.
“It’s an enjoyable time parading through the community and seeing the people that shop at my store,” he said, adding that he appreciates H-E-B’s culture, family atmosphere, great opportunities for advancement, “giving back” commitment to community and fostering of a workplace where everyone belongs.
H-E-B and their employees support many Juneteenth events across Texas, including activities in Austin, Pflugerville, Kyle, La Grange, and beyond. Check out their Event Calendar and join in the celebrations! We’ve got our eye on Austin’s Juneteenth Parade. Follow its historic route on Saturday, June 18th, starting at 10am, and spend the day at the Park Festival with KUTX & the Greater East Austin Youth Association.
This year (and all years), let’s take this time to CARE – celebrate, advocate, reflect, and educate – about Juneteenth, and honor the freedom of Black Americans and the (often unacknowledged) contributions they have made to American culture. In the words of Former President Barak Obama, “Juneteenth has never been a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It’s a celebration of progress. It’s an affirmation that despite the most painful parts of our history, change is possible—and there is still so much work to do.”
At the Long Center, we’ve always got a new partnership or something cool we know you’ll want to check out! Find and follow us @longcenter on your social media platform of choice, and we’ll see you real soon.
