Juneteenth

Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation. President Abraham Lincoln issued this proclamation on January 1, 1863, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory free. The enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation was delayed in Texas, the westernmost Confederate state, until General Granger’s arrival. The prolonged struggle for emancipation and the challenges with communication and enforcement were heightened during the delay. It wasn’t until more than two years after the original Emancipation Proclamation had been issued that the last group of enslaved African Americans in Texas learned of their freedom.

Juneteenth is known as National Independence Day, as this made the true end of slavery in the United States. In 2021, Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday in the United States.

Did you know that just 41% of American workers knew about Juneteenth before 2020 in a U.S. workforce study? The racial reckoning of 2020 pushed that percentage to 71% as of May 2021 according to the Harvard Business Review.

While Juneteenth began as a regional celebration primarily observed in Texas, it is now a nationwide holiday recognized for its cultural and historical significance. It is a celebration of freedom and a day of jubilee. More employers have made Juneteenth a paid holiday or have provided the option of using a floating holiday to celebrate Juneteenth.

Juneteenth is an important date in American history, and employers should be mindful that colleagues may want to observe and celebrate this national holiday in a variety of meaningful ways such as attending local Juneteenth events, visiting significant cultural sites, and supporting Black organizations and individuals in the community

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Juneteenth provides a designated day of

• Engaging in reflection and education about African American history and heritage
• Celebrating the freedom and resilience of African Americans and their contributions of African Americans to society

Juneteenth provides opportunities for non-Black allies to show solidarity and support by volunteering time and resources to support the African American community as well as sharing in a commitment to dismantle white supremacy not only on Juneteenth but throughout the entire year.

Employers are encouraged to promote broader awareness and recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and prioritize diversity equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, creating spaces where all can feel valued, respected, and heard.

There is still work that needs to be done to achieve true equality and justice for all and we all can be a part of the change.

References:

• Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, https://nmaahc.si.edu/
• National Geographic, Education Historic Article, Juneteenth
• Juneteenth: More Than a Holiday for Some Employers (shrm.org)
• okhistory.org
• How Your Organization Can Recognize Juneteenth (hbr.org)– Harvard Business Review
• Which states recognize Juneteenth as an official holiday? | Pew Research Center
• National Education Association
• Gallup, Public’s Understanding of Juneteenth Has Grown Since 2021(gallup.com)
• How to Celebrate Juneteenth | GLSEN

Written By: Charlotte Johnson, MA, LPCC