Members of the Damascus Way team had the privilege of joining employees from our affiliate ministries Transform MN, Arrive Ministries and New Life Family Services to commemorate Juneteenth. Staff members began the day at Transform Minnesota before heading out for a field trip to For Snelling to view a special exhibit that told the story of enslaved Africans in Minnesota. This included the history of Dred and Harriet Scott and background from the landmark Dred Scott case that played a crucial role in the start of the Civil War. The exhibit also showcased stories of African American who were early residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
As we know, the Juneteenth holiday celebrates the day when Union troops finally arrived in Galveston Bay, TX with news of freedom and emancipation at the end of the Civil War. Damascus Way staff members were able to commemorate it by learning more about the history of slavery and racism in our own state and by recognizing the ongoing work of racial justice that continues today.
