Honoring Juneteenth: A Call to Remember, Reflect, and Rebuild
On June 19, 1865—more than two years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation—the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were finally told they were free. This day, now known as Juneteenth, commemorates the true end of slavery in the United States. Today is it’s 160th Anniversary: a day of celebration, remembrance, and deep reflection—not only on what was gained, but also on what was taken, what was denied, and what still remains unresolved.
TruCare is based out of Philadelphia, where Juneteenth holds special meaning. Our team of caregivers is made up primarily of Black and Latina women—extraordinary individuals who nurture their families and communities with strength, compassion, and dignity. Many of these women are descendants of those who were enslaved. They continue to carry burdens born from that legacy: unequal pay, limited access to healthcare, intergenerational trauma, and systemic barriers that touch nearly every corner of life.
While Juneteenth marks the end of slavery, it also serves as a reminder that freedom was not the end of oppression. The toxic seeds planted in Jamestown in 1619—when the first enslaved Africans were brought to these shores—have grown into a legacy of racial inequity that still persists today.
We see it in the widening racial wealth gap, where the median income of Black households remains significantly lower than that of white households. We see it in the healthcare system, where Black mothers and infants face alarmingly high mortality rates and resistance from providers when requesting pain management treatment. We see it in our prisons, where Black and Latino men and women are disproportionately incarcerated. We see it in underfunded schools, in discriminatory housing practices, and in the daily microaggressions that chip away at human dignity.
As a home care company, we know that True Care means confronting pain—not just the physical, but the historical and systemic as well. Healing begins when we acknowledge wounds, not ignore them.
Reparative justice, economic investment in marginalized communities, comprehensive criminal justice reform, and honest education about our shared history are not optional—they are essential.
Juneteenth is not just Black history—it is American history. We are more than just the sum of our parts. Let us honor it by continuing to build a country where liberty and justice are truly for all.
Let this be the summer not just of sun and celebration, but of courage, compassion, and commitment to real change.
Happy Juneteenth!
