Celebrating Juneteenth in the Workplace
June 14, 2023
In 2021, Juneteenth, a long-celebrated commemoration of the June 19, 1865, order to emancipate enslaved African Americans in Texas, became a national holiday. In 2023, it occurs on Monday June 19.
Traditionally, on June 19, local festivities highlighting African-American culture, such as barbeques, picnics, readings, family reunions, and gatherings, are held to celebrate the emancipation, with singing and often red food and drink (e.g., red velvet cake and red punch) that symbolize variously the blood of forebears, joy, and resilience.
Juneteenth, sometimes called Jubilee Day, has become more familiar outside the African-American community since becoming a national holiday, and more widely recognized as an important part of not only Black history but American history. It marks a significant event in U.S. history for all Americans, and reminds us of the progress we still need to make regarding civil rights and equal treatment and opportunity for Black Americans as well as other often marginalized communities.
Why celebrate Juneteenth at work? If any holiday embodies the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion, it’s Juneteenth!
Here are some ways to acknowledge/celebrate Juneteenth at work:
- Share a Juneteenth recipe.
- Email a picture of the Juneteenth flag. (Created in 1997, it’s red, white, and blue.)
- Invite a speaker to give a talk about the history and meaning of Juneteenth.
- Offer a special Juneteenth DEI workshop/training in honor of the holiday.
- Make June 19 a paid day off.
Juneteenth is an opportunity for organizations to objectively assess their recruitment, retention, advancement, and inclusion of Black and other historically marginalized employees. It’s an opportunity to consider active recruitment at HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) as well as Tribal colleges and professional organizations that are minority-focused. It’s an opportunity to provide mentorship programs for Black employees and to encourage them to take on leadership roles. It’s a reminder of where we’ve come from as a country, and the long way we still have to go.
Let’s embrace Juneteenth as a way forward together toward more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplaces, and a joyous holiday commemorating a great day in American history!