SojoMail - If you preach justice, you should observe Juneteenth

View this email in your browser In this week’s SojoMail: A Ferguson activist on today’s protests, the latest Stephen King adaptation, and the ongoing construction of Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica. If You Preach Justice, You Should Observe Juneteenth In this week’s SojoMail, Adam Russell Taylor writes that amid today’s retrenchment and backsliding on racial justice, our nation needs the lessons of Juneteenth more than ever: This week, the staff at Sojourners will have some well-deserved additional time off as we pause on Thursday to observe Juneteenth. I want to share why we do this — and why I hope other American Christians will join us in honoring this day as part of our shared call to justice. It has been four years since Congress established Juneteenth as a national holiday on June 17, 2021. That same year, my executive team at Sojourners decided to follow suit for our organization. For us, taking Juneteenth off isn’t about performative justice or simply giving our staff an extra holiday. It’s about aligning our calendars with our convictions — redoubling our commitment to expanding freedom, learning the painful but necessary lessons from our past, and honoring one of the most significant moments in our nation’s history. Even though Juneteenth is now a national holiday, I wonder how deeply its meaning has truly seeped into our civic consciousness, particularly at a time in which the uglier parts of our nation’s history are being whitewashed and censored. Anniversaries of accomplishments in the long freedom struggle offer a critical opportunity to push back against those efforts and tell the unvarnished truth about American history — the good, the bad, and the ugly. Amid today’s retrenchment and backsliding on racial justice, our nation needs the lessons of Juneteenth more than ever. As I reflect on the day’s history and meaning, two historical footnotes stand out. Read the full article Advertisement Our Latest Stories The Reconstruct: Does Protesting Work? (by Josiah R. Daniels) Jonathan Pulphus, an author, organizer, and a Ferguson activist, shares how the lessons he learned in 2014 still apply today. Read more ‘The Life of Chuck’ Is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made (by Abby Olcese) This Stephen King adaptation won’t scare you — but it will dare you to consider how you're spending your brief time on earth. Read more What Makes a Group House a Home? (by Alfonso Sasieta) People with disabilities disproportionately battle loneliness. Many at L'Arche are finding connection through ritual. Read more From the Magazine: 142 Years Later, the World’s Tallest Church Building Is Almost Complete (by Greta Lapp Klassen) A work in progress can still be a thing of majesty. Read more Advertisements Lead with purpose: CFO opportunity at Everence now open Everence is a faith-based financial services organization seeking a CFO to lead with vision and stewardship. This role supports a long-standing mission of empowering individuals, churches, and organizations to live out their values through faithful financial decision-making. Congregational Presbyterian Church Director Position Congregational Presbyterian Church is seeking a full-time Director of Next Generations Ministries position. Congregational Presbyterian Church is a warm and welcoming congregation in Lewiston, Idaho, formed through a merger of the Presbyterian Church and the United Church of Christ. All resumes and inquiries can be directed to the link above by 9/10/25. Donate Subscribe Unsubscribe or update email preferences Copyright © 2025 Sojourners. All rights reserved. Email: sojourners@sojo.net | Tel.: 202.328.8842