Juneteenth commemorates the ending of slavery in the United States of America! On June 19th 1865 soldiers arrived in Texas to confirm the ending of the war and announce that the slaves were free. This historic event occurred over 2 years after Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation of 1863. However, his executive order did not reach African American’s in Texas because they were not informed by the federal troops. The event signifies a pivotal moment in American history. In our present day, Juneteenth symbolizes African American emancipation, education and advancement not only within the United States, but also beyond. Communities all across the world reflect by hosting festivals that showcase black history and culture and to offer fellowship.
As AMPLIFY! we remain committed to persevering the health and legacies of the African American community along with the entire Diaspora. Our mission is to end commercial tobacco use as well as address the social and economic injustice issues they create. The tobacco industry has a longstanding history of scaling pernicious marketing efforts towards communities of color. This targeting increases product use amongst African Americans and in turn creates a disproportionate burden of disease. Smoking results in adverse health outcomes and impacts forthcoming generations. Juneteenth is a day of celebration in which we empower and encourage our community to take control of their lives by choosing to stop smoking and vaping.