Celebrating Juneteenth at Your Company

More and more businesses are acknowledging Juneteenth as an important annual holiday. Recognizing this day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States is a way to underscore your company’s commitment to supporting racial justice today and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Understanding Juneteenth

Juneteenth is considered the longest-running African-American holiday in America, and the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, Major Granger and his Union soldiers arrived at Galveston, Texas, with the news that the war had ended and the slaves were now free. Although this was nearly two years after Lincoln’s famous Emancipation Proclamation, which started the process of liberation, it stands in history as the day on which Texas’ 250,000 slaves were officially freed. 

In any celebration of this day, it’s essential to understand the historical background and its emotional significance. For African-Americans, it represents their resilience and path toward equality, as well as respect and freedom for all people. 

According to the official Juneteenth website, “It’s a time for assessment, self-improvement, and for planning the future… Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society.” 

Ways to Celebrate Juneteenth

Juneteenth celebrations revolve around unity, awareness, culture, self-improvement, and education. Consider these three ways to celebrate Juneteenth at your company with respect and impact:

1. Give employees a paid day off and encourage volunteering 

If it’s feasible for your company, making Juneteenth a paid holiday demonstrates the history of all of your employees matters equally. You can encourage employees to celebrate by performing community service. Provide a list of projects that need volunteers or convenient sign-up sheets. 

2. Sponsor and attend local Juneteenth events 

Many communities around the country have Juneteenth events such as parades, cookouts, concerts, rodeos, workshops, etc. Do your research and find activities to support through corporate donations and/or employee volunteer opportunities. 

3. Create a way for employees to share personal experiences

Allow employees to share their own experience with the holiday and the role it has played in their life. Some topics can include what does Juneteenth mean to you, how did you first hear about it, and/or what stories did your relatives first tell when discussing the holiday? 

Make Diversity and Inclusion an On-going Pursuit

Celebrating differences through activities like Juneteenth observances is one way to promote and support a culture of inclusion in your workplace. Creating a climate of inclusion takes work and time, but taking every opportunity to live and talk about these values can help all of your employees feel seen, heard, and valued. 

Kanarys is Your DEI Champion

At Kanarys, we are the diversity, equity, and inclusion people with the data-driven approach. Since 2018, Kanarys has aimed to change the world by creating equitable workplaces where everyone belongs. We guide your organization’s DEI path every step of the way with courage and collaboration. It starts with data, analytics and insights, and continues with recommendations and implementation. 

Our mission, as your partner and champion in the ever-evolving DEI journey: Help you understand what it takes to foster lasting, systemic change today and for tomorrow. Because when you succeed with DEI, your employees can thrive—and so can your organization.