Celebrating Juneteenth – Finally a Federal Holiday!
At long last, the United States will finally recognize Juneteenth as a new federal holiday, which commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. It is the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was created in 1983. The bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday was passed this week.
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers brought the news of freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas — two months after the Confederacy had surrendered. That was also about 2 1/2 years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed the enslaved people in the Southern states.
Juneteenth also commemorates African American freedom and emphasizes education and achievement. It is a day, a week, and in some areas a month marked with celebrations, speeches, picnics, and family gatherings. It is a time for reflection and rejoicing. It is a time for assessment, self-improvement, and planning the future. Its growing popularity signifies a level of maturity and dignity in America long overdue.
In cities across the country, people of all races, nationalities, and religions are joining hands to truthfully acknowledge a period in our history that shaped and continues to influence our society today. Sensitized to the conditions and experiences of others, only then can we make significant and lasting improvements in our society. Read more about the country’s newest official holiday at https://juneteenth.com.
At Vireo, we are helping to mark this important day by allowing team members two options to commemorate, celebrate, or serve on Juneteenth. Vireo teams can use one of their 2 floating holidays to take the day off (or an adjacent day when it falls on the weekend, as it does this year.)
They can also use their extra paid time off provided as part of our “PTO with a Purpose Program” to volunteer at Juneteenth events or at non-profits or community organizations whose work relates to the ideas behind the Juneteenth holiday – promoting racial freedom, equality, and justice.
No matter your race, creed, or color, here are some ways that you can celebrate and honor the Juneteenth Holiday:
- -Research History
- Pre-Slavery
- Slavery
- Current Challenges and Issues facing African American communities
- -Research Activism Opportunities
- -What work needs to be done for equality?
- -Check out amazing non-profits in the cannabis space:
- -Listen to Podcasts about historical and current events surrounding the Black community.
- -Black on Black Education: https://www.blackonblackeducation.com/
- -Watch documentaries, movies, tv shows honoring Black Culture and History
- -Trips to museums and other educational institutions that display Black culture.
- -Support Black-owned businesses in your community
- -Highlight Black-owned business
- -Shop Black-owned business locally and online
- -Read Black Authors/Scholars
- -Listen to Black Artists/Musicians
- -Highlight Historical Contributions
- -Do not use this opportunity to sell (for Retail and Companies)
- -Instead, use this platform to elevate Black voices.
- -Celebrate at Home with Family and Friends
- -Small gatherings – establish your own traditions
- -Understanding the Juneteenth Flag – The star has a double meaning. One is the Lone Star State for Texas, the last informed state, but it also represents the freedom of African Americans in all 50 states. The colors, red, white, blue is representative of the American flag symbolism that the formerly enslaved people and their descendants are in fact Americans.
Now that Juneteenth is an official federal holiday, it is vital that we help promote more understanding and celebration of the holiday and the historical significance that it commemorates. Happy Juneteenth !