By Karen Stokes On Juneteenth, the Biden-Harris Administration was proud to celebrate and honor Black history as they remain deeply committed to always uplifting and protecting it. Although Juneteenth has been an official state holiday in Texas since 1980, it has only been a federal holiday since 2021. A bill to solidify Juneteenth National Independence […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Juneteenth: Environmental Justice
By David Crowley Milwaukee County Executive In 2016, 89-year-old Opal Lee set out to walk from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington D.C. as part of her campaign to make Juneteenth a national holiday. Opal Lee, who’s known as the “grandmother of Juneteenth,” ultimately collected more than 1.5 million signatures. Five years later, Opal was in […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Freedom Isn’t Free: Reflections on Juneteenth
By LaKeshia N. Myers Juneteenth is a wonderful celebration; a time to remember our ancestors’ plight for freedom. A time to reflect on the costs of the freedoms we enjoy today. A time to renew the fight for freedoms we have yet to earn or are at risk of losing. On this Juneteenth Day, I […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Celebrating Juneteenth
On June 19th, 1865, Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to announce that the more than 250,000 enslaved African Americans in the last state under Confederate control were finally free– officially ending slavery in our country and marking the freedom of every single African American. This Juneteenth, I want to commemorate Wisconsin’s Black communities and […]
Northcott Neighborhood House Receives Governor’s Tourism Award for Juneteenth Organization
By Karen Stokes Northcott Neighborhood House received the Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Award at the 2024 Governor’s Dinner and Awards Celebration held at Geneva Resort on Tuesday, March 12th. The Milwaukee community organization was honored for its commitment to the community for organizing Milwaukee’s Juneteenth parade and celebration for over five decades. Tony Kearney, […]
Why Should We Celebrate Juneteenth?
By Karen Stokes Juneteenth has transformed into more than an occasion for acknowledging the emancipation of African Americans from slavery. It has evolved into a meaningful time to recognize the enduring spirit, solidarity, and vibrant culture of the Black community. Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on the heritage. In 1865, Union soldiers arrived in […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Commemorating Juneteenth
By Tammy Baldwin 158 years ago, word finally spread to enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, that the Civil War ended and they were free – officially ending slavery in our country and marking the freedom of every single African American. It was on June 19th, 1865, that our country had its second independence day. […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Juneteenth Flag Proudly Flown at State Capitol
By Governor Tony Evers In 2020, I proudly ordered the Juneteenth flag be flown at the State Capitol for the first time in state history, to commemorate the day in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas to declare the end of slavery, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was enacted. It is […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
Juneteenth: Battles Fought & Won Every Generation
By LaKeshia N. Myers The late Coretta Scott King once said, “Struggle is a never-ending process. Freedom is never really won; you earn it and win it in every generation.” As an African American, I know this to be true. When I reflect on the significance of Juneteenth and us as a people, having only […]
EXCEPT WHERE INDICATED, THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ON THIS PAGE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF THE MADISON TIMES
It’s Time to Celebrate Juneteenth, No Thanks to Senator Ron Johnson
By Alex Lasry Americans across the country will be celebrating Juneteenth this year for the second year as an official federal holiday. The establishment of Juneteenth as a national holiday last year was a bright spot and the culmination of a long effort to get this done. But if it were up to Wisconsin Senator […]