Be Who You Know You Are: Honoring the Spirit of Juneteenth

Juneteenth used to be my own personal holiday.

I honored it not because it was printed on a calendar or endorsed by my workplace, but because it deserved to be acknowledged and celebrated, just like any holiday that carries history, legacy, and meaning. At the time, it wasn’t mentioned. Not in staff meetings. Not in casual conversations. Not even during moments when we reflected on culture or community. When I brought it up to colleagues, most had never heard of it. They listened. They were receptive to the history and engaged in the moment. But that’s where it stayed: in the moment. It never moved beyond polite interest.

I originally learned about Juneteenth through an episode of the television series Black-ish. The show often blended humor with thoughtful commentary, shining a light on issues relevant to the Black community. One episode in particular left a lasting impression. It broke down the meaning of Juneteenth in a way that was both accessible and deeply resonant. That was the first time I saw the holiday centered and explained with clarity in a mainstream space.

After that, I wanted to learn more. I discovered that Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865: the day Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to inform the last remaining enslaved people that they were free. This was over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation had been signed. For more than twenty-four months, these individuals continued living in bondage, unaware that their freedom had already been declared. And while some explain the delay as a communication issue, we know