Juneteenth: What I'm Learning and Why It Matters

To be honest, I had only heard bits and pieces about Juneteenth over the years. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I didn’t fully understand what it was until the last few years. That changed on June 17, 2021, when Congress passed a resolution (with overwhelming support) and President Biden signed it into law, officially making Juneteenth a federal holiday.

Every year, the holiday seems to be getting even more attention--and that’s a good thing. I believe it’s important for all of us, especially those of us who are white and American (like me), to really understand what Juneteenth is about, where it comes from, and how we might observe it in a way that’s thoughtful and respectful.

In my effort to learn, I reached out to some Black friends and colleagues whose perspectives I deeply value. Before sharing a few of their insights, though, here’s a little bit of background for anyone who, like me, didn’t grow up learning much about Juneteenth.

The name “Juneteenth” is simply a mash-up of “June” and “nineteenth.” It’s widely considered the oldest African American holiday, with celebrations dating all the way back to 1866. You might also hear it called “Freedom Day,” “Emancipation Day,” or “Juneteenth Independence Day.” It commemorates June 19, 1865--the day federal troops finally arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce the emancipation of enslaved people, more than two years after President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Emancipation Proclamation, as many now realize, didn’t instantly free all enslaved people. Even after the Civil War ended in spring 1865, many enslavers in Texas had kept the news from those they held captive. It wasn’t until Union General Gordon Granger and his troops arrived in Galveston that roughly 250,000 enslaved people in Texas learned of their freedom. Although it didn’t happen overnight for everyone, celebrations broke out, and what we now know as Juneteenth was born. Later that year, the 13th Amendment was adopted, formally abolishing slavery in the United States.

The first Juneteenth celebration, then called "Jubilee Day," took place in Texas in 1866. Over the years, it grew to include barbecues, music, prayer services, and community gatherings. As Black families moved to other parts of the country, they carried the tradition with them. Juneteenth remained especially important in Texas, where many families made annual pilgrimages back to Galveston. In 1979, Texas became the first state to officially recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. Many other states have followed since.

But while Juneteenth is certainly a day to commemorate freedom and progress, it’s also one that requires honest reflection--particularly for white Americans. It forces us to confront a deeply uncomfortable truth: that white supremacy and systemic racism were baked into the very foundation of this country through the institution of slavery. And even now, these systems of oppression haven’t disappeared, they’ve simply evolved. The ongoing violence against Black and Brown people, and the persistent denial by many white Americans that systemic racism exists, are painful reminders of that reality.

For many Black Americans, Juneteenth can be complicated to celebrate. Yes, it's a recognition of emancipation, but it’s also a reminder of how long the fight for true equality has dragged on. Even today, disparities remain in almost every area: jobs, healthcare, housing, education, criminal justice--the list goes on. Widespread recognition of Juneteenth as a holiday is an important step, but it’s not a substitute for real justice or reparative action.

As I continue to learn, I’m reminded that observing Juneteenth isn’t just about celebration. For many of us, it’s also about listening, learning, and committing to the ongoing work of allyship and anti-racism.

But let’s hear what some of my black friends had to say to me.

• I feel grief and joy at the same time. Joy because it was the first real moment of anticipated freedom for blacks in this country. Grief and sadness because here we are hundreds of years later, and we still aren't truly free.

  
  

• From where I stand, it's important to remember that that day celebrates for black people being free from the chains of slavery and still working up to this day to free themselves from the oppression that came after that. But that white people also must work to free themselves from the same oppressive systems that they benefitted from. If they can't free themselves from the cage that holds them in, no one will experience true equality! So, it should be a day of self-examination and reflection, amongst the commemoration.

  
  

• For me the main thing that comes up is using this day to reinforce that Black History is American History, especially during this time when there is such a backlash. Second, don’t commercialize or make it performative. Too many organizations and brands doing this now. Real commitment and action on equity is what is necessary. Anything else is inauthentic. And a final thought: empower, center, and celebrate black voices.

  
  

• Juneteenth represents the notion of delayed rewards. Those enslaved in Texas were the last to get the message that freedom was theirs. The holiday is a reminder: we're not free until everyone is free. And we must fight for everyone's freedom, regardless of whether we all have our rights. Yes, some of us have the privilege to marry, that our gender identity is accepted by the public, that we speak a dialect widely accepted by those around us. But so many of us still live in fear and are denied basic rights on a daily basis. So, this Juneteenth, think about all of those who are not free and break away their shackles.

  
  

• One thing to note is that your black friends are not the voice for black America. Technology has improved the ability to learn and research for your own awareness. We’re not looking for you to regurgitate history to People of Color (POC) but still, teach your non-POC friends as well.

Honestly, as I’ve been learning more about Juneteenth, I keep coming back to how much I didn’t know--and how much I still have to learn.

Yes, Juneteenth marks the end of slavery, and yes, that’s something worth celebrating. But for me, as a white person, it’s also a really sobering reminder of how brutal and inhumane that chapter of history was--and how its impact is still very much alive today. It’s easy to want to focus only on the progress we’ve made, but that can sometimes feel like a way of avoiding the harder, more uncomfortable truths.

The reality is, we’re still living with the consequences of slavery and systemic racism. The inequalities Black Americans face today--in healthcare, education, housing, policing, and so much more--didn’t come out of nowhere. They’re directly connected to that legacy.

So for me, observing Juneteenth isn’t just about celebration. It’s about slowing down, listening, learning, and asking myself some uncomfortable questions. It’s about hearing and amplifying Black voices, sitting with the discomfort, and figuring out how I can be part of the work that still needs to be done.

There’s a lot to reflect on. And even more to do.

Take a moment today and educate a loved one about Juneteenth. Ask a friend who is a person of color what it means for them. And then listen, honor their perspective, and think how you can integrate their experience into your worldview and everyday life.

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#LearnYourHistory #WhiteAllyship #JuneteenthReflection