06/19/2026
Today I stand in gratitude.
A couple of weeks ago, I finally had the opportunity to visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. It was an emotionally heavy experience.
Slavery was a system built for economic gain that took human beings and turned them into commodities—bought, sold, and exploited to create wealth that our ancestors were excluded from. I left feeling sad, angry, and reflective.
Yet I was also reminded of something equally powerful: we are a people of extraordinary resilience, creativity, and strength. We endured then, and we continue to endure today.
I am grateful for the generations who fought for freedom and equal rights, who refused to accept that they deserved any less than full humanity and opportunity.
I am grateful for the ancestors who persevered despite knowing the risks and sacrifices that freedom would require. We stand on their shoulders.
Juneteenth is more than a date on the calendar. It is a tribute to those who refused to let injustice have the final word—the ancestors who endured the unthinkable, and the men and women who fought, organized, prayed, and believed that freedom was possible even when they could not yet see it.
Our story, our resilience, and our contributions deserve to be spoken, remembered, and celebrated.
Happy Juneteenth!
