By Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Special to Michigan Chronicle
Juneteenth is an important moment in American history. It commemorates the moment the Emancipation Proclamation was finally enforced in Texas at the end of the Civil War, freeing the last enslaved people. It also honors the fundamental values we hold dear: freedom, liberty, and equality for all. Juneteenth allows us to reflect on the past and ask ourselves how we are paving the way for a more just future. My administration is committed to celebrating Juneteenth and living up to its responsibility by delivering for Black Michiganders.
That starts with the kitchen-table issues Black Michiganders face right now. Many families are hurting with the rising cost of gas, childcare, and food. That’s why we repealed the retirement tax and quintupled the working families tax credit, putting thousands of dollars pack in the pockets of hardworking families and seniors. I signed legislation lowering the cost of prescription drugs and we delivered free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students, saving families $850 a year per student. This all adds up to more money for the essentials.
We are also taking concrete action to make Michigan a more equitable and just state. We made Juneteenth a state holiday and enacted the CROWN Act, banning hair discrimination. We established the Michigan Economic Opportunity Fund, a $10 million microbusiness loan program for women and entrepreneurs of color. We are closing the racial unemployment gap with expansions of tuition-free college and skills training through Michigan Reconnect.
We declared racism a public health crisis and required over 230,000 health licensees to complete implicit bias training. We established and expanded programs like Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies and Rx Kids, which provide critical support to moms and babies during pregnancy and the critical first early months of life. When we saw COVID-19 disproportionately affecting Black communities, we established the Racial Disparities Task Force, which saved lives and made Michigan a leader in tackling racial health disparities.
We are building a state government reflects and represents Michigan communities: more than 60% of my administration’s appointees are women or people of color. We are approaching even infrastructure projects with equity in mind, reconnecting communities that were destroyed and divided by a Detroit highway with the I-375 revitalization project.
While we are proud of the work we have done, the lesson of Juneteenth, and Black history, is that there is always more to do. There will never be a moment when we cross an equity finish line. This is the work of generations: those who came before us, those who live now, and those to come. Juneteenth reminds us that “The moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards freedom.” It is our responsibility to bring about positive change and build a brighter future for all.
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