Juneteenth Is a Celebration—and a Call to Action
By Mikey J Smith
Juneteenth celebrates freedom—freedom that was long overdue, and freedom that, even today, remains incomplete for many Black Americans. In the Bay Area, we honor this day not just by remembering the past, but by reckoning with the present—and nowhere is that reckoning more urgent than in our schools.
Racial Disparities in Bay Area Classrooms
Across the Bay Area, Black students continue to face barriers that others do not. According to data from the California Department of Education, Black students in the Bay Area are suspended at disproportionately high rates, are more likely to attend under-resourced schools, and face systemic challenges that directly impact educational outcomes. In Oakland Unified School District, for example, Black students make up about 21% of the student body but account for over 50% of all suspensions. And in San Francisco, the opportunity gap remains stubbornly wide—with only 26% of Black students meeting grade-level standards in math as of 2023.
It’s Not Just Curriculum—It’s Confidence
Academic performance isn’t just about curriculum—it’s about confidence, access, and feeling prepared. When a student doesn’t have a backpack, pencils, or even basic supplies to start the year, they’re starting at a disadvantage that compounds over time. That reality is more common than you think.
In communities like East Palo Alto, Oakland, and parts of San Jose, rising housing costs and stagnant wages have forced families to make impossible choices. School supplies fall low on the list of financial priorities, even as students face pressure to show up ready to learn.
Partnering for Progress
This is where Family Giving Tree steps in—working alongside community partners like A Brighter Day Youth Work Program, a Black-led East Palo Alto nonprofit supporting local youth through mentorship and resource distribution. Earlier this year, we worked together to distribute warm winter coats to families in need. Now, as we approach the 2025 Back-to-School season, these partnerships must continue: building bridges where systemic gaps exist.
Education Is a Justice Issue
Access to education is not just a school issue—it’s a justice issue.
As we commemorate Juneteenth, let’s remember that freedom means more than liberation from physical bondage. It means liberation from cycles of poverty, underfunded schools, and systemic neglect. It means making sure every child has the tools they need to learn, thrive, and build the future they deserve.
How You Can Help
This Back-to-School season, you can be part of that promise.
Support educational equity by helping provide backpacks filled with supplies to Black students and their peers across the Bay Area. Because showing up prepared is more than a moment—it’s a movement.
