06/19/2025
JUNETEENTH: UNAPOLOGETICALLY FREE
June 19, 1865 — a date that marks more than the end of slavery in Texas. It represents delayed justice, deep resilience, and the unstoppable pursuit of freedom for Black Americans. Even though the Emancipation Proclamation was signed two and a half years earlier, it wasn’t until Union soldiers arrived in Galveston that over 250,000 enslaved people in Texas learned they were free.
That moment is why we celebrate Juneteenth. Not just as a historical footnote, but as a living legacy. A day of remembrance, a day of joy, and a call to keep fighting for equality, dignity, and unity.
And here in Amarillo, we gather where legacy lives — Matthew “Bones” Hooks Park. This park isn’t just a place for celebration, it’s a monument to one of our city’s true trailblazers.
Matthew “Bones” Hooks was a Black cowboy, educator, and community leader. He broke barriers during a time when racism was woven into the law of the land. As one of the first Black men to ride in the famed Texas cattle drives, and later as a man who dedicated his life to uplifting Amarillo’s youth and Black community, Bones Hooks left a legacy of strength, perseverance, and purpose.
So when we celebrate Juneteenth at Bones Hooks Park, we’re not just throwing a party — we’re standing on the shoulders of giants. We’re honoring those who fought for our freedom and those like Bones Hooks who fought to keep that freedom meaningful.
Let us remember, reflect, and rejoice.
Because we are UNAPOLOGETICALLY FREE.
