Celebrating Family and Freedom

Posted by

Beth Houlton

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What’s the first thing many former slaves did after being freed in 1865? They searched for long-lost family members who’d been forced to live up to hundreds of miles away. Then and now, family is everything.

This week, Juneteenth – our newest federal holiday – recognizes the official end of slavery, and allows generations to connect the present to the past by sharing their history.

Click to meet four African-American families with long legacies in Paterson, New Jersey. Their tradition of staying connected and working for the good of their community is a shining example for us all.

Celebrating both family and freedom – that’s the heart of what Juneteenth is all about.

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About the author

Beth Houlton believes in the power of words and individual actions to fuel positive change, especially when done in an intentional way that benefits us all. Personal and professional endeavors in journalism, law, music, community activism, and nonprofit organizations that work for the greater good provide a unique yet multi-faceted perspective and motivation for this movement.