Mantra Wellness

Happy Juneteenth this Friday, June 19th!

If you are unclear on the historical significance of Juneteenth to this country and its people - with your grace ... Juneteenth marks June 19, 1865, the day Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas and announced that enslaved people in the state were free, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. The delay happened for a mix of reasons, including the limited presence of Union troops in Texas to enforce the order and slaveholders who deliberately withheld the news to keep extracting labor for as long as possible.

Because Texas was the last Confederate state to receive word of freedom, the day carries particular weight here, and Texans have celebrated it as Emancipation Day since the late 1800s, with gatherings often centered on churches and community since many public spaces barred Black celebrations. In 1980, Texas became the first state to make Juneteenth an official state holiday, a milestone that helped fuel the broader movement that eventually led to it becoming a federal holiday in 2021.

Mantra has traditionally closed its doors for this holiday but Mantra is honoring Juneteenth in a new and different way this year. As a small, local business that provides what we feel is a vital service - especially these days - Mantra Wellness will be open on Friday, June 19th.

So, instead of closing this year, we will be donating 100% of our profits on June 19th to a community-led organization that works for the benefit of Austin's Black community.

To find out more, or to donate on your own, go to aayhf.org.