For many Americans – especially white Americans – Juneteenth is unfamiliar. You may not have grown up celebrating it, or even learning about it. You may feel unsure of what to say, how to acknowledge it, or whether it’s even yours to recognize.
But if you’re a changemaker – if you’re doing the work of building a more just, inclusive, and equitable world – then Juneteenth is absolutely part of your story.
And it’s time to lean in.
African American slave family or families posed in front of wooden house, on the plantation of Dr. William F. Gaines, Hanover County, Virginia. Historical image courtesy of the Library of Congress.
The Story at the Heart of Juneteenth
Juneteenth marks the day – June 19, 1865 – when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to enforce the Emancipation Proclamation. It had been over two years since that proclamation was signed, but tens of thousands of enslaved people in Texas were still in bondage. On that day, those people were finally informed of their freedom.
But that freedom wasn’t instant. It wasn’t total. And it wasn’t justice. Not all enslaved people were freed that day, and certainly not all were free from violence, poverty, or systemic oppression in the years that followed.
So Juneteenth isn’t just a celebration of freedom – it’s a reminder that freedom was delayed. That it had to be fought for. That it was uneven, imperfect, and unfinished.
In other words, Juneteenth tells the truth – and it invites us to reckon with what that truth demands of us today.
Why It Matters for People Who Lead
If you’re reading this, you probably care deeply about justice. You may be leading a nonprofit, serving your community in public office, or organizing toward equity in your corner of the world. You want to show up with integrity.
Here’s why Juneteenth matters for you:
1. Because You Can’t Build Equity Without Telling the Full Story
So many systems we work to change today – poverty, incarceration, housing, education, health care – are rooted in legacies of slavery and racial exclusion. Juneteenth is an invitation to tell that truth. Not just once a year, but continuously, in how we lead and how we listen.
As changemakers, we can’t afford to edit out the hard parts. Equity isn’t just a value – it’s a story we tell more honestly every time we show up.
And that honesty matters – especially now, when efforts to erase the painful truths of slavery and systemic racism from textbooks, classrooms, and public memory are gaining ground. If we care about equity, we have to protect the full story – because a history half-told is a future misled.
2. Because Cultural Fluency Builds Trust
Your staff, your clients, your partners – they notice how you mark this day. Whether you lead a workplace, a campaign, or a classroom, acknowledging Juneteenth with respect and context shows that you’re paying attention.
It doesn’t have to be loud or performative. But silence, or a generic “Happy Juneteenth” post with no substance, can send a signal you don’t intend.
Leadership today requires more than vision. It requires cultural fluency, and Juneteenth is part of that language now.
3. Because Freedom Wasn’t Fully Won Then – And Still Isn’t Now
July 4 celebrates freedom for white Americans. Juneteenth acknowledges when freedom began to include everyone. But it also reminds us that freedom isn’t finished. Black communities in America still face systemic disparities in housing, health, education, voting rights, and more.
Honoring Juneteenth doesn’t mean claiming a struggle that isn’t yours. It means standing with those who are still fighting. It means recommitting to the work of liberation in every form it takes.
How I Celebrate – and Why It Means So Much
I didn’t have to learn Juneteenth as an adult. I grew up celebrating it.
My ancestors on my mother’s side were enslaved in Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Arkansas, and Alabama. My mother and grandmother raised me with deep pride in that history. They taught me spirituals passed down through generations, and told me stories of our people’s strength. I learned about Juneteenth not from a textbook, but from my family.
Today, my family and I celebrate with joy. We cook soul food, listen to music by Black artists, dance, sing, and gather with community. We light sparklers in the backyard and tell stories that remind us: we are still here.
I’ve taught my children the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and every time I sing it, I feel my ancestors with me. I feel their strength in my voice, their hopes in my hands. I am their future. And celebrating Juneteenth is how I honor them.
How You Can Celebrate With Intention
If Juneteenth is new to you, that’s okay. What matters is how you show up now. Here are a few ways to do that with thoughtfulness and respect:
- Educate yourself and your team about the history of Juneteenth
- Share stories, not just hashtags – especially from Black voices
- Shop at Black-owned businesses
- Attend a Juneteenth event or festival in your city
- Reflect on what freedom means to you – and who still doesn’t have it
- Acknowledge the day in your workplace or public messaging with context and care
You don’t have to be Black to honor Juneteenth. But it’s important that the celebration centers Black joy, Black resilience, and Black leadership.
Final Thoughts: A Call to Changemakers
Juneteenth is not a side note – it’s a mirror. It asks us: What does freedom mean today? Who is still waiting for it? What role can I play?
If you care about building a more equitable world, this day is part of that journey – not just in words, but in action.
So show up. Listen. Learn. Celebrate. Reflect.
And above all, honor the people who made your freedom possible by fighting for their own.