by Dalton Black, executive director
Harvey County United Way serves a diverse population within our community. Things like poverty, hunger, and mental health concerns know no race, gender, creed, or sexual orientation. We help folks in our community because they have a need.
June is the month where we celebrate what makes us different. We raise a flag to show our support of LGBTQ+ community members. We observe Juneteenth in recognition of the emancipation of African American slaves in the U.S.
Our nation’s first Pride celebration was a riot. The Stonewall Riots began on June 28, 1969 as New York City police raided a gay club, the Stonewall Inn. The raid sparked a riot and consisted of six days of protest. Trans women stood at the forefront of the protest. The Stonewall Riots served as the catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States. Because of the brave individuals at Stonewall, LGBTQ+ folks have more rights today than they did just 50 years ago.
Today we celebrate Pride as a way of commemorating these past struggles and a recognition of the continued fight for equality.
Although President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, it wasn’t until June 19, 1865 that Major General Gordon Granger issued the order, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas.This date became known as Juneteenth and became recognized as a federal holiday in 2021.
Enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation relied upon the advance of Union troops. As Texas was one of the most remote states of the former Confederacy, enforcement had been slow and inconsistent due to lack of Union troops after the American Civil War. Over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in Texas were finally free following Granger’s order.
We celebrate these things because there are individuals in our community that fit within these groups. They are our neighbors, our friends and our family. It’s important that we recognize our past and the struggles of these individuals so we can build a stronger community for us all.
To understand one another is to help one another.
The United Way 