HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 06-02-2026; 4-a - Juneteenth Freedom Day Proclamation 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: June 2, 2026
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 recognizing June 19, 2026 as Juneteenth Freedom Day
in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: On June 19, 1865 — more than two 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 adopted 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 government will host a Juneteenth celebration on June 12, 2026.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with consideration of the
proclamation.
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
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• 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 and authorize the
Chair to sign the proclamation.
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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION RECOGNIZING JUNETEENTH 2026
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 Orange County Board of Commissioners 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 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, themed "Juneteenth Brings Balance to
America's Celebration of Freedom," connects to the America 250 celebrations going on
across the nation this summer, reminding us that honoring Juneteenth is honoring the true
legacy of the American struggle freedom; and
WHEREAS, this year's events honor the service and sacrifices of Black people brought to
this country against their will and waited for America to fulfill the promises laid out in the
Declaration of Independence by including Black people; and
WHEREAS, we are reminded by the words of Barack Obama: "Juneteenth has never been
a celebration of victory or an acceptance of the way things are. It's a celebration of progress,"
— a call to continuing fighting forward as an act of ongoing liberation; and
WHEREAS, the June 12, 2026 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 Friday, June 19, 2026 as JUNETEENTH
FREEDOM DAY in Orange County, 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 2nd day of June 2026.
Jean Hamilton, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners