Juneteenth, Education, and the Pursuit of Justice in Lancaster

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States—June 19, 1865—when enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, finally received word of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is a day of profound significance, rooted in the collective memory of Black resilience, survival, and the ongoing pursuit of justice.

This year, Lancaster County is honoring Juneteenth with a series of powerful events: block parties, music festivals, educational exhibits, and historical reflections. These aren’t just moments of joy—they are acts of resistance, cultural affirmation, and community-building.

Yet, even with its designation as a federal holiday, America continues to struggle with embracing Black freedom. A recent Gallup poll found that only 38% of white Americans support Juneteenth. And if you venture into the comment sections of articles on platforms like PennLive, LNP, or WGAL, you’ll encounter an undercurrent of racial insensitivity and outright anti-Blackness. From ignorant questions about “why this holiday exists” to vitriolic attacks on Black culture, the backlash is a painful reminder of how far we still have to go.

Juneteenth, then, is not just a celebration. It is a call to educate, to resist erasure, and to demand accountability.

Lancaster’s Radical Legacy—and Unfinished Business

Lancaster is not new to this fight. One of its most legendary figures, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens, was a radical abolitionist who believed freedom without land and wealth was no freedom at all.

In 1866, Stevens championed the Southern Homestead Act, a post-Civil War effort to provide up to 80 acres of land to formerly enslaved Black Americans and loyal white Unionists. His goal was clear: economic independence for freedmen and reconstruction of the South through justice and opportunity.

But Stevens’s vision was blocked by white supremacist backlash and a federal government unwilling to challenge entrenched power. The promise of land was denied. Generations of Black Americans were left to struggle without assets, without restitution, and without the means to build wealth.

This history matters today. It reminds us that calls for reparative justice are not new—they are old demands, long ignored.

A Local Blueprint for Repair

While we uplift the beauty of Juneteenth events, we also believe Lancaster can lead the way in turning memory into action.

That work is already beginning.

Here in Lancaster, Community Mennonite Church has taken a bold step by establishing a local reparations fund—a tangible example of what ethical accountability can look like. Their commitment joins a growing national movement that recognizes reparations not as charity, but as justice.

We propose that by Juneteenth 2026, Lancaster should:

- Establish a Reparations Task Force to explore local models of redress, including cash payments, land access, education investments, and cultural preservation.

- Host public forums and educational events to deepen understanding of the racial wealth gap and the legacy of slavery in Lancaster.

- Partner with historians, scholars, and community elders to document Lancaster's role in systemic exclusion—from slavery to redlining to mass incarceration.

Lancaster has a chance to model this work—just as other cities and institutions have:

- Georgetown University created a reconciliation fund to support descendants of the enslaved people it once sold, pairing financial restitution with community investments.

- Tulsa, Oklahoma launched a $105 million “Road to Repair” initiative following the 1921 Race Massacre, offering programs in housing, education, and business development.

Our city is not immune to history. But it can choose to rise to this moment.

Juneteenth Is Just the Beginning

We affirm the joy and cultural power of Juneteenth. We encourage Lancaster residents to show up, support, learn, and celebrate. But we also ask: what comes next?

The Black Voter Outreach Network of Pennsylvania calls on our city’s leaders, faith institutions, educators, and residents to pair celebration with courageous action.

Let Juneteenth 2025 be a day of joy, music, food, and pride.

Let Juneteenth 2026 be a turning point—when we deepen our collective education, confront our shared history, and commit to justice that is real, reparative, and lasting.

We Want to Hear From You

Juneteenth is not only Black American history — it’s Lancaster history. The celebrations, the community leadership, the conversations — they are part of our city’s living legacy.

Should we start formally archiving Lancaster's Juneteenth celebrations and initiatives?
And if so, who should lead that work?

Take our brief poll here: (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc3FydQJXk2OinSgFVhsxPwtdUPdlqnuRrDhahxTDFXErW2rg/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=103203354510451244313) and help shape the future of how we honor and preserve this important history.