Today we celebrate Juneteenth! 

What is Juneteenth? 

June 19, commemorates the freedom of the last enslaved African Americans on June 19, 1865. Two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was established,  General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, TX on this day to announce the end of the Civil War and inform enslaved African Americans in this state of their freedom by reading the proclamation to them. 

Why is it important to celebrate and acknowledge Juneteenth? 

Though freedom came to some African Americans after the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, not all enslaved people became immediately free as the proclamation was not implemented in states under Confederate control. Juneteenth commemorates the freedom of all African Americans who were enslaved. This is an important distinction because it helps us reflect on the idea that dismantling systemic inequality doesn’t happen in a day, it’s a fight that we must continue until all are declared free. 

On this day we reflect on the past of our nation, we learn and educate ourselves, and we hope and act towards a better future. 

How can you commemorate Juneteenth? 

Learn about the holiday and its history. Juneteenth is not something that has been typically taught in schools or talked about much in the media, but now we have a chance to learn and educate ourselves on the importance of this day and why we should join the African American community in paying tribute to this important date in history. 

Currently 47 states recognize Juneteenth as a state holiday, and many are fighting to make this historic date a national holiday. If not observed at your place of employment we encourage you to start the conversation on the importance of observing and celebrating this day and to join celebrations across your community. 

There’s still a lot of work to do to end systemic inequality and racism in this country. Juneteeth is a reminder that we must persist until true freedom is possible for all. 

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