Part of the PPMC鈥檚 work to support diversity, equity, and inclusion is personal and team education. Our team is also committed to helping you learn. If you don鈥檛 already, Juneteenth is something you should know about. Moreover, we encourage you to celebrate it.
Most people learned in history class that President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, abolishing slavery and making enslaved people free. While this is something to celebrate, those enslaved were not instantly set free.
Juneteenth (a combination of the words 鈥淛une鈥� and 鈥渘ineteenth鈥�) is the day that federal troops came to Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865 and made sure that enslaved people in the area were set free. This was two-and-one-half years after Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Before Juneteenth, Texas was considered a 鈥渟afe haven鈥� for slavery to continue to exist, as there was little Union military presence.
Slavery wasn鈥檛 abolished overnight this time either 鈥� many Black people remained enslaved until harvest season was complete. However, there were many celebrations among freed Black Americans, which started the Juneteenth tradition. In December 1865, the 13th Amendment was adopted, and slavery was formally abolished.
Juneteenth is now celebrated to honor a more accurate date to the end of slavery. The holiday is considered the United States鈥� oldest national celebration of the end of slavery.
In modern history, Juneteenth commemorates freedom and is a time for reflection and rejoicing. Juneteenth is a time that everyone is 鈥渏oining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society鈥� (Juneteenth.com).
This is why it鈥檚 important to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth in your community or organization. When George Floyd was killed last year in Minneapolis, more people have become aware of the biases in our society and therefore more aware of Juneteenth. Many companies (like Twitter, Target, and Nike) have declared Juneteenth as a holiday and 47 states also recognize the day as a holiday. Juneteenth is an official paid holiday for state employees in Texas, Virginia, New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington.
What can you do to celebrate in your community?
- Policymakers: declare Juneteenth a local holiday (or encourage your local policymakers to do so)
- Leaders and business owners: make Juneteenth a holiday or celebration in your organization
- Movie night: host a movie night with
- History lesson: gather your family for a history lesson and candid discussion
- Neighborhood celebration: join your local neighborhood group and have a cookout or picnic (red foods are a symbol of resilience)
- Read: gather some and the Black experience
- Join in: find a preexisting Juneteenth celebration and ask to join in 鈥� and meet someone new!
- Listen: check out the Spotify
Read more about Juneteenth: