Commemorating Juneteenth
Plus, the Fed Stays the Course, Word of the Week, and more...
Today, One Country Project celebrates Juneteenth, commemorating the 160th anniversary of the announcement in Galveston, Texas of the emancipation of enslaved people following the end of the Civil War. Juneteenth became a federal holiday just four years ago, despite being celebrated in communities for decades.
Here are a few important updates…
JUNETEENTH: FREEDOM FOR ALL AMERICANS
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, officially abolishing slavery in the United States. However, the news of freedom spread slowly across the country. Almost two and a half years later, on June 19, 1865, General Order No. 3 was issued in Galveston, Texas, informing all enslaved people of their freedom. Juneteenth marks the freedom of the last of America’s enslaved people. The annual commemoration has grown from local roots to a national celebration, and, finally, recognition as a federal holiday.
It is increasingly important for all Americans to celebrate Juneteenth, learning about the holiday dubbed “Freedom Day.” When children learn about the history of slavery in the U.S., they are often told it ended with Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. However, students do not often learn about how long it took for the last enslaved people to be made aware of their freedom, over two years. Juneteenth does not celebrate the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation or the ratification of the 13th Amendment, enshrining the end of slavery into the Constitution. It marks the day where emancipation finally reached all Americans.
Juneteenth represents how “freedom and justice in the US has always been delayed for black people.” The abolition of slavery did not mean black Americans were free, the decades following the Civil War were filled with lynching, mass imprisonment, and Jim Crow laws. Karlos Hill, a University of Oklahoma professor of American and African-American studies, stated that “the question of if Juneteenth is well-known and understood is directly tied to the history of slavery not being well-understood.” It is seen as a largely African-American holiday, not as something for the general population. But today, the notion that one individual cannot be free until all individuals are free continues to ring true. As we witness the dehumanization and illegal deportations of people based solely on their race, it is more than important than ever to remember the history of Juneteenth.
THE FED STAYS THE COURSE
Today the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve announced that interest rates would remain unchanged. Citing the looming prospect of higher inflation, reduced employment, and increasing national debts - all being fueled by President Trump’s agenda - Fed Chair Jerome Powell added, “It takes some time for tariffs to work their way through the chain of distribution to the end consumer. So we’re beginning to see some effects, and we do expect to see more of them over the coming months.”
President Trump responded by calling Powell “stupid”. Trump’s previous outbursts against Powell have caused significant fluctuations in stock and bond markets and in part led to the birth of the TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out). It remains to be seen if Trump will progress beyond a mere tantrum and attempt to remove Powell from his position. Based on recent Supreme Court rulings, Trump doing so would setup the conditions for yet another potential constitutional crisis.
WORD OF THE WEEK
Heat-dome: a meteorological phenomenon in which high pressure in the earth's atmosphere prevents hot air from escaping and the pressure above the mass of air increases the heat at ground level.
This week and massive heat dome is set to impact an area encompassing more than ethanol 15 million Americans. Heat domes have become much more common as the impacts of global warming continue pushing the average global temperature ever higher each year.
2025 RURAL PROGRESS SUMMIT
This summer you can join One Country Project board members, influential speakers, policy experts, national leaders, and rural advocates for the fourth annual Rural Progress Summit July 8th - 10th. The keynote conversation will feature Sec. Pete Buttigieg in a virtual fireside chat with Sen. Heitkamp. As a former Transportation Secretary and small city mayor, Pete Buttigieg has the ability to speak knowledgeably and clearly on the biggest issues facing our country. The Rural Progress Summit explores ideas and policies that will shape the future of rural America.
Details
What: One Country Project Rural Progress Summit
When: Tuesday, July 8th – Thursday, July 10th, 2025
Where: Online, hosted on Zoom
WHAT WE’RE READING
National Museum of African American History and Culture: The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth
CNN: How cities are scaling back Juneteenth celebrations after Trump-era DEI rollbacks
USA Today: Could Trump end Juneteenth as a federal holiday? Not on his own
League of Women Voters of North Carolina: Voters, Civil Rights Groups Including the League Seek to Intervene in NC Voting Case Brought by DOJ
Cardinal & Pine: From gas stations to gardens, rural communities step up to help as Congress slashes SNAP
The American Prospect: Senate Bill Gives Giant Tax Break to Big Oil
Washington Monthly: Student Loan Debt: What Went Wrong and How to Fix It
Mother Jones: The Trump Administration Is Shutting Down the National Suicide Hotline’s Program for LGBTQ Youth
Rolling Stone: Fox News is Demanding a war with Iran. Donald Trump is Listening.
The New Republic: Federal Reserve Warns Trump’s Economy Is About to Get Whole Lot Worse
The Atlantic: The Fear Coursing Through State Capitols