uneteenth is the newest federal holiday in the United States, celebrated on June 19^th, and was first recognized by President Joe Biden in 2021. It is a day to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. The anniversary of the order was first issued by Major General Gordon Granger on June 19, 1865, proclaiming freedom for slaves in Texas.  

Despite being from a predominantly Black city like D.C., Juneteenth was not a holiday I grew up with or knew much about. It was a very small section of my education growing up, maybe one paragraph in my AP history class. But Juneteenth celebrations came to the forefront when Black folks were dying disproportionately during the pandemic and during the events following the murder of George Floyd. Now that the holiday is federalized and recognized, it is a part of everyone’s life.

This is a new holiday that is for everyone and not just the Black Community.  Many will assume that the Black community will be a subject matter expert on Juneteenth but not all African-Americans will be very familiar with Juneteenth or the history behind it. It is not a holiday that many of us were taught about and that we are still learning how we want to celebrate and recognize this day.

It is important to recognize and remember that Black history is about much more than just recognizing or acknowledging the lingering effects of slavery. We are Americans too, who built the foundation of this nation. This holiday to me means recognizing our ugly past, our path to freedom and just how far we have come as a community.

We should reflect on Juneteenth as a time to recognize our commitment to freedom and avoid seeing the holiday as a time to recognize racial division but one of inclusivity.

 How we celebrate and honor Juneteenth

To honor Juneteenth, we all need more education about the holiday and to read about our history. Our community needs to be educated on what Juneteenth means to our nation as a whole and needs to learn more about Juneteenth from the context of the late 19^th century. It is a time to not only recognize the ugliness of slavery, but to also learn about all aspects of Black history, especially the historical accomplishments of the Black community since that time.

I encourage people of all races to attend Black organized events, which are meant for the whole community. Many people are worried they won’t be welcome at Juneteenth events or events labeled as “Black” or “African-American,” but you can attend to show your allyship and learn more. A great way to celebrate the holiday would be to attend these events and have a chance to support a Black organization or Black nonprofit in our local community or nationally.

Within the workplace, leaders can encourage a discussion about Juneteenth and attendance at Juneteenth celebrations. Leaders can help spread the word that all are welcome at these events.

While Juneteenth has an ugly past based in racism, today’s celebrations are a way to come together to honor the day and all of the progress that we have made. Celebrating our history and freedom can help put us on a path toward unity and allyship.