SCAlpha Celebrates JUNETEENTH!!!

June 19, 2025

Brothers of the South Carolina District,

As we pause to commemorate Juneteenth, I greet each of you in the spirit of reflection, remembrance, and renewed responsibility.

Juneteenth—June 19, 1865—marks the day that Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, to enforce the freedom of those still enslaved. Though our ancestors were declared free on paper in 1863, it was not until two and a half years later that the last of them heard the sound of liberation echo through the South. Juneteenth is more than a date on the calendar—it is a symbol of delayed justice, enduring faith, and unbreakable hope.

Here in South Carolina, that story holds a deeply rooted significance. From the shores of Charleston, where some of the earliest slave ships docked, to the praise houses of St. Helena Island, where Gullah-Geechee traditions kept our spirit alive, South Carolina has long been a cradle of both struggle and strength. This land bears the footprints of ancestors who toiled in bondage—and the fingerprints of brothers who’ve built legacies of excellence, advocacy, and advancement.

As men of Alpha, we stand on the shoulders of those who never saw freedom but dreamed of it for us. Today, in alignment with our 'Be a Brother' campaign, I challenge each of you to do more than just celebrate—commit.

• Be a Brother who uses this moment not only to remember history, but to make history.

• Be a Brother who embodies justice, uplifts his community, and shows up for his fellow man—not just in word, but in consistent action.

• Be a Brother who understands that freedom is not just a past event, but a present-day pursuit—for our youth, our elders, and ourselves.

Let Juneteenth renew our collective call to serve. Whether through mentoring, civic action, or simply showing up for one another—our legacy is shaped by what we do, not just what we say. Let South Carolina be a district where freedom rings not only in commemoration, but in commitment.

On this day of liberation, may we walk proudly in the footsteps of our ancestors, hold fast to the bonds of brotherhood, and strive relentlessly to make Alpha and our communities stronger.

Happy Juneteenth, Brothers.

Fraternally,

Ruben L. Freeman

Bro. Ruben L. Freeman

District Director