Freedom is taking center stage this month in Oakland County as we honor the Freedom Seekers and their Underground Railroad allies – the abolitionists who provided safe harbor.

This is our history and these are the people who walked our streets and raised their families right here in Oakland County. They built churches that served as sanctuary for those seeking refuge. They became lawmakers and active members of their communities. There are parks and schools and stadiums named after them.

The Juneteenth celebration is happening today on the lawn of the Oakland County courthouse as a way to commemorate June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger traveled to Texas, the last state under Confederate control to sign on to the Emancipation Proclamation, which was signed by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 to officially declare the end of slavery.

These are some of the names of the formerly enslaved with strong ties to Oakland County who are worth exploring: John Sella Martin, a gifted orator and outspoken opponent of slavery, who lived for a time in Southfield;  Henry and Elizabeth Hamer who made their home and raised a family in Royal Oak, where a park is now named in their memory; and George and Eliza Dozier, the first Black property owners in Birmingham.

A few of the abolitionists who were not only vocal in their opposition to slavery, but also provided safe harbor for freedom seekers and worked to change laws included George Washington Wisner, of Pontiac, and Nathan and Abram Power, of Farmington Hills.

Their courage and determination in the face of hostility and violent punishment is remarkable. For a fuller picture of their journeys, this website provides an enlightening tour of the People and Places of the Underground Railroad network in Oakland County.

We are proud to mark the day not only with the festivities at the county today, but also throughout the week with the Juneteenth flag flying at the county complex and the lighting of the courthouse in Juneteenth colors

Juneteenth is truly a cause for celebration, especially for Black people, and a time of reflection for all our residents as we acknowledge a truly dark chapter of American history and ensure that we understand the remnants of that legacy that are still with us today

In honor of Juneteenth, we dedicate ourselves to freedom from discrimination, racism, violence and unequal treatment.