HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 06-03-2025; 4-a - Juneteenth Freedom Day Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 3, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 4-a
SUBJECT: Juneteenth Freedom Day Proclamation
DEPARTMENT: Office of Civil Rights and Civic
Life
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Proclamation Paul Slack, (919) 245-2317
PURPOSE: To approve a proclamation designating June 19, 2025 as Juneteenth Freedom Day
in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: On June 19, 1865 — more than two (2) years after the signing of the
Emancipation Proclamation — U.S. Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas,
to inform the last enslaved African Americans that they were free. This day, now known as
Juneteenth, marked a powerful moment of delayed liberation and became a defining milestone in
the struggle for Black freedom. The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Texas in 1866, where
communities gathered for prayer, food, music, and dance. As Black families migrated from Texas
to other parts of the country, they carried Juneteenth's cultural and historical traditions with them.
In 2007, North Carolina approved legislation that allowed Juneteenth National Freedom Day to
become an official state holiday once federally recognized. In 2020, Orange County and the
Towns of Carrboro, Chapel Hill, and Hillsborough affirmed Juneteenth as a local holiday. Today,
Juneteenth is celebrated as a federal holiday across all 50 states, recognized as a time of both
jubilation and reflection.
Juneteenth not only honors freedom — it invites us to reckon with the ongoing legacy of slavery
and the long, unfinished journey toward justice. Historian Ira Berlin, in The Long Emancipation:
The Demise of Slavery in the United States, argues that emancipation was not a singular event,
but "a near century process" driven by the resistance, resilience, and determination of Black
Americans. Freedom was not granted — it was fought for. Through centuries of struggle, Black
Americans have expanded the meaning of citizenship and reshaped the promise of American
democracy, redefining who is included in the phrase "We the People."
This year, Orange County will host a Juneteenth celebration on June 13, 2025.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation.
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ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 5: PUBLIC EDUCATION/ LEARNING COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 1. Foster collaborative relationships with formal and informal educational
organizations and agencies to provide opportunities for community members to meet,
connect, and learn together.
• GOAL 6: DIVERSE AND VIBRANT ECONOMY
OBJECTIVE 1. Provide family-oriented and inclusive programming or other cultural events
for residents and visitors.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board approve the proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign the proclamation.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH 2025
WHEREAS, Orange County has recognized Juneteenth as the moment when freedom finally
reached all enslaved African Americans, marked by the arrival of Union troops in Galveston,
Texas more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation — reminding us of the
strength of those who, even in bondage, sowed the seeds of liberation and began reuniting
their families in the aftermath of slavery; and
WHEREAS, the Board has reflected on Juneteenth as both a celebration and a solemn
reminder of the long struggle for true freedom — recognizing that the end of slavery did not
immediately bring justice, and that Black Americans have continuously led efforts to expand
the meaning of democracy and belonging for all; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Juneteenth celebration, themed "Where Freedom Gathers, We Rise,"
builds on this legacy by uplifting the stories of Black families who persevered after
emancipation and continue to shape our communities through generations of strength; and
WHEREAS, this year's events honor the service and sacrifices of Black veterans who fought
for freedom abroad while being denied it at home — demonstrating unwavering commitment
to justice in the face of systemic exclusion; and
WHEREAS, Orange County affirms the essential role of youth in imagining and shaping a
better future, and we commit to listening to their voices and supporting their leadership as
builders of what's next; and
WHEREAS, we are reminded by the words of Frederick Douglass: "It is easier to build strong
children than to repair broken men," — a call to nurture young people as an act of ongoing
liberation; and
WHEREAS, the June 13, 2025 Orange County Juneteenth celebration will offer opportunities
to gather and learn together — creating space for connection, remembrance, and shared
purpose;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that we, the Orange County Board of
Commissioners, honor Juneteenth as a living tradition — a reminder of how far we've come,
and a commitment to continue building a community rooted in truth, dignity, and repair.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that we proclaim Thursday, June 19, 2025 as JUNETEENTH
FREEDOM DAY in Orange County, North Carolina, and encourage all residents to take part
in commemorating this historic day— by learning from the past, gathering in the present, and
carrying the work of freedom forward.
This, the 3rd day of June 2025.
Jamezetta Bedford, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners