Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is Juneteenth, and what is its historical relevance?
A. Juneteenth commemorates the proclamation issued by Union Army General Gordon
Granger on June 19, 1865 in Galveston, ordering the freedom of more than 250,000
enslaved Black people in Texas.

President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation officially outlawed slavery in
Texas and other states at war with the Union on January 1, 1863. However, Lincoln’s
proclamation had little impact on Texans then due to the few Union troops available to
enforce the law. Enforcement of the declaration generally relied on the advance of
Union troops due to continued rebel resistance.

Although African Americans have celebrated Juneteenth since the late 1800s, nationwide
protests against racism and police brutality in 2020 gave new urgency to the day and its
historical relevance.

The U.S. Congress passed legislation and President Joseph Biden signed the
Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, recognizing Juneteenth
as a national holiday. Adams’ iconic mural and the Galveston initiative’s co-chair Opal
Lee became the face of Juneteenth in advance of President Biden’s historical signing.

Q. How did Absolute Equality start?
A. Philanthropist Sheridan Lorenz commissioned public artist and social activist
Reginald Adams in early 2021 to create a 5,000-square-foot art installation on the side
of the Old Galveston Square Building in Galveston. U.S. General Gordon Granger
issued General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865 on the site, informing the people of Texas
that all enslaved people were free—the genesis of Juneteenth.  

General Order No. 3 included language stating that the proclamation “involves an
absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property.”

Today, the most accepted definition of “equality” is the state of affairs in which all
individuals within a specific society have equal rights, liberties, and status, including civil
rights, freedom of expression, autonomy, and equal access to certain public goods and
social services.

Adams’ iconic mural and the Galveston initiative’s co-chair Opal Lee became the face of
Juneteenth leading up to U.S. President Joseph Biden signing the Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth an annual federal holiday.
Since Galveston, Adams has produced Absolute Equality art installations in Miami,
Shreveport, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Houston.

Q. What is the intent of the Absolute Equality initiative?
A. Absolute Equality aims to recontextualize Juneteenth as a pivotal moment in the arc
of U.S. history, and retell the story of its genesis, and historical and contemporary
relevance.

The center point of the initiative is the creation of large art installations and storytelling
spaces that are revealed on or near Juneteenth, the federal holiday on June 19 each
year.

“Absolute Equality reimagines an approach to monuments and memorials to better
reflect the nation’s diversity and highlight a story that was extensively buried or
marginalized until 2020,” Adams said. “Each storytelling space gives form and narrative
to the beautiful, extraordinary, and powerful multiplicity, representing one of America’s
most influential and essential stories.”

Q. What cities is Absolute Equality scheduled to reveal art installations during its
2024 nationwide tour?
A. To honor and celebrate Juneteenth 2024, public artist Reginald Adams is scheduled
to reveal art installations in a five-city nationwide tour, including Los Angeles,
Washington, D.C., Atlanta, and Denver.

Reveal dates for Absolute Equality art installations in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C.,
Atlanta, and Denver will vary. In late March through early April, Absolute
Equality will announce specific installation locations, locally commissioned artists, and
community partners, reveal dates, and additional information. 

In 2021, Adams’ iconic mural and the Galveston initiative’s co-chair Opal Lee became
the face of Juneteenth before President Biden signed the Juneteenth National
Independence Day Act, making Juneteenth an annual federal holiday.
Since Galveston, Adams has created Absolute Equality art installations in Miami,
Shreveport, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Philadelphia, and Houston.

Q. How did Absolute Equality kick off its 2024 initiative?
A. In celebration of Black History Month, Absolute Equality invited guests to an online
conversation and Q&A moderated by public artist Reginald C. Adams on Thursday,
February 22 at 10:00 am Central. The event focused on African American contributions
to the arts.

Participants included:
- Tae E. Jackson is Arts Center manager, Fulton County Arts & Culture
in Atlanta.
- Kristina Noell is executive director, Anacostia Business Improvement District,
Washington, D.C.
- KaDavien Baylor is public artist and team member of Galveston's original "Absolute Equality" mural, Shreveport.

Adams was also a featured participant at the Association for the Study of African
American Life and History’s (ASALH) Black History Festival Luncheon on Saturday,
February 24 in Washington, D.C. ASALH founded National Black History Month in the
United States.  

As part of the Absolute Equality kickoff, Adams also signed copies of his children’s
book, “Juneteenth: A Picture Book for Kids Celebrating Black Joy” (HarperCollins), on
Sunday, February 25, at the National Museum of African American History and Culture
at the Smithsonian.

Q. How is the Absolute Equality initiative funded?
A. Philanthropist Sheridan Lorenz commissioned Adams in early 2021 to create a
5,000-square-foot art installation on the side of the Old Galveston Square Building in
Galveston. U.S. General Gordon Granger issued General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865
on the site, informing the people of Texas that all enslaved people were free—the
genesis of Juneteenth.  

Adams’ iconic mural and the Galveston initiative’s co-chair Opal Lee became the face of
Juneteenth before President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day
Act on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth an annual federal holiday.

In 2022, Reginald Adams seed-funded the start-up of his for-profit Absolute Equality Inc.
initiative, with Capital One making is first investment. Since then, the initiative is funded,
in part, by Capital One, with smaller grants and donations provided by various
individuals and organizations in local markets.

Q. Is Juneteenth a national holiday in the United States?
A. The U.S. Congress passed legislation, and President Joseph Biden signed the
Juneteenth National Independence Day Act on June 17, 2021, recognizing Juneteenth
as a national holiday in the United States.

Q. Where can I obtain more information about Absolute Equality?
A. For more information about the Absolute Equality initiative and details about the
locations of its art installations, visit AbsoluteEquality.org.

Q. Where can I obtain more information about Reginald Adams?
A. For more information about public artist and social activist Reginald Adams, visit
AbsoluteEquality.org or ReginaldAdams.com.