The Jamz

Juneteenth: Yesterday & Tomorrow!

On January 1st, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, thereby declaring freedom to 4 million Black slaves in America. Although the Civil War was hard fought, the collective power of the abolitionist movement achieved victory. On June 19th, 1865 (aka “Juneteenth”), despite the opposition of Southern slaveowners and capitalistic industrial influences, Major Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas. With the power of the United States Army, Granger declared the words of the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the last of the slaves. What a momentous day of liberation for the remaining slaves who walked into their freedom without pain and persecution of death!

As the 160^th Juneteenth celebration quickly approaches, the Black population represents 14% of Americans; nearly 48.3 million people. Though no longer held in slavery, they still bear the pain of white economic supremacy, as Black communities strive to overcome conditions that too often lead to poverty. This is especially evident when exploring various dimensions of Black American culture. Two studies, one from the Economic Policy Institute and the other from the National Alliance to End Homelessness, demonstrate the dangers of long-lasting passive-aggressive racism from the 1800s.

PAUSE TO CONSIDER: 

• Post-civil rights era legislation has largely failed to address widening racial disparities in wages, wealth and home ownership for Black Americans.
• Over the past 50 years, the annual Black unemployment rate has often exceeded 10% whilst, even during the worst economic downturns, the annual white unemployment rate has never surpassed 10%.
• The typical white family has eight times more wealth than the common Black family. This racial wealth gap is a long-standing vestige of centuries of government policies that explicitly denied African Americans the opportunity to build wealth. “Both poverty and income strongly correlate with race in the United States. Among all racial groups, Black Americans are second most likely to experience poverty, with 21% living below the poverty threshold, following Native Americans at 25%. Black Americans in particular have only ten cents for every dollar in wealth that white families have.”

NOW JOIN THE CONVERSATION:

On Sunday June 22nd, 2025, Ferver Music will host two special guests to discuss the Freedom Series of 2025:

• Deputy Mayor Khalfani Stephens, City of Pontiac
• Alicia Stephens, SVP Comerica Bank

This dynamic duo will share their experiences in the city of Pontiac, discuss the power of education and building strong communities, and how to envision the future for a better Black America. Join the conversation and learn what the Allyship can do to help!

Date: Sunday June 22nd, 2025

Happy Hour Begins: 4:00pm 

Solidarity Hour Begins: 4:30pm

Location: Go Comedy Club, 261 E. 9 Mile Road, Ferndale, Michigan 48221

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