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What is Juneteenth & How Can We Celebrate It In The Workplace?

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Last Updated on June 13, 2023 / Employee Relations

Colorful sign for Juneteenth

HR Question:

I know Juneteenth is an official federal holiday, but I don’t know much about it. What is its significance and how can we reflect that in the workplace?

HR Answer:

This is a great question, and an important one at that! Here at Strategic HR, we want to recognize the importance and deep meaning behind the history and celebrations of Juneteenth. There is no better way to do so, in our opinion, than to lift and highlight the voices of those who have ties to the joy and the sorrows behind this day. Narcissa Murphy, one of our Cincinnati-based HR Business Advisors, shared what Juneteenth means to her and her thoughts on how workplaces can embrace the celebration.

Narcissa’s Experience

Juneteenth commemorates June 19th, 1865, a day once observed as African American Emancipation Day. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was passed two years prior and the 13th amendment six months prior, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas would not be notified about their freedom until Union troops arrived to share the word. In 2021, Juneteenth was signed in as a federal holiday by President Joe Biden.

As a child, I grew up celebrating Juneteenth alongside my family by attending festivals, parades, and cookouts. We would watch documentaries together to better understand our history – to understand the significance of this celebration and to remind us of the sheer magnitude of suffering our ancestors had endured. This day gave us the opportunity to honor them.

To me, this day reminds me to stay humble, to honor myself and my family, and to pay tribute to what my ancestors went through to get me to where I am today. I’m reminded of a frequent phrase, “You stand on the shoulders of your ancestors.” My ancestors came here unwillingly, made something out of nothing, and survived in spite of the horrors inflicted upon them. And while this day commemorates the losses that we as a people have endured – the loss of life, culture, names, and traditions – we have made it our own celebration and find ways to thrive today.

Celebrating Juneteenth in the Workplace

Supporting and showing recognition for this time in history can be accomplished in various ways. The first step, and potentially the most important step, is understanding the history and its importance. Take the opportunity to educate your team members on Juneteenth’s timeline, important facts about the day, and provide additional resources for those wanting to learn more.

Allow opportunities for your team to volunteer or support local festivals and parades. Encourage respectful attendance and participation, or if schedules don’t allow, find ways to raise money or gather donations for any participating charities.

Bring the celebration into the office! Create an annual company/office celebration, or include this day as an official company holiday to align with the public federal holiday schedule.

Let’s Celebrate!

Not sure where to find a celebration near you? Check out these local and neighboring festivals and celebrations in the Tristate area:

  1. Cincinnati’s 36th Annual Juneteenth Festival
  2. Cincinnati’s Official Juneteenth Parade
  3. Florence Ky 1st Annual Juneteenth “Discovering Your Roots”
  4. 3rd Annual Hamilton Juneteenth Celebration
  5. Juneteenth Panel Discussion & Tasting Event
  6. Springboro 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament Celebrating Juneteenth 2023
  7. Brown Sugar Fashion Gala: Chocolate City – A Juneteenth Celebration
  8. Springboro Juneteenth Jubilee
  9. City of Woodlawn – Juneteenth Fireworks Festival

You can learn more and find additional ways to celebrate at Juneteenth.com.

Juneteenth has been a cornerstone celebration in my childhood, my adult life, and my professional life. Everything that I am today is because of the people who have come before me. They looked beyond their situation and thought of me today; they found ways to fight for freedom so that I could be what I am– a successful professional in corporate America, learning and growing and making my own life.

A special thank you to Narcissa Murphy, HRM, HR Business Advisor for her thoughtful contribution to this week’s HR Question of the Week.

Having an inclusive organizational culture that contributes to your organization’s overall success doesn’t happen by accident. It needs to be nurtured. Learn how we can help you to nurture your culture through our employee relations services, or contact us today.

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