Celebrating Juneteenth

Making Progress Towards an Equitable Society.

One of the most important events in American history is Juneteenth, the date on which enslaved people were officially freed in Texas on June 19, 1865. This date marks the arrival of Union troops in Galveston, two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. Although Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) were no longer enslaved, new laws still required them to work for plantation owners, rather than enjoy the benefits of owning a land. As a result, even today's wealth inequality has been influenced by this. In 2021, President Biden signed legislation establishing Juneteenth as the 11th federal holiday. As the legacy of Juneteenth shows, it recognizes the adversity of not giving up hope when times are uncertain — but it is the start of a new beginning.

In honoring Juneteenth, we can instill a critical lens in future generations that will ensure that racial progress over the past 158 years continues to strengthen our nation. By discussing history truthfully and using its lessons to inform our future, we empower ourselves and bring people together on a racial level. As a result of Juneteenth, we can approach current and future problems with the greatest insight, which helps to build trust and accountability within our systems.

?“Discussing history truthfully and using its lessons to inform our future breeds empowerment and is racially unifying.”

To ensure all Americans have full enfranchisement of rights, many important - and overdue - changes are needed. These changes include:

• Addressing Systemic Racism: In order to move forward, we must acknowledge the oppression suffered over many years. The ACLU reports that BIPOC communities are looking for allies, corporations, and government agencies to identify and then break down the processes and procedures that create disadvantages.?
• Access to Healthcare: A study by Reuters found that Black adults are 1.5 times less likely than White adults to have health insurance. Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than White women.?
• Food Insecurity: The USDA reports that nearly 20% of Black families lived in a food insecure household in 2021. Additionally, Black people experience hunger three times more than Whites, and Black children face hunger more than their White counterparts.
• Police Reform: A long-term solution for police reform will require addressing the grievances and concerns of civilians about law enforcement. Reform appeals to a much-needed overhaul in 21st century policing. BIPOC communities and law enforcement must engage in genuine and honest ways to build trust in this process.?

We are encouraged to come together on Juneteenth under a common mission to learn from the past and improve our future by learning from it. A common mission to address our issues with racism can unite us all in a union far from perfect. The future of U.S. history does not have to be divisive — instead, it can unite us all in a common mission with a great deal of potential.

Kal Gajraj is a Miami/Fort Lauderdale-based communications and brand strategist and has two decades of marketing and public relations experience, including B2C and B2B focuses. Kal is a certified diversity professional and human rights consultant with the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights aiming to help organizations and people leaders towards communicating inclusively, accelerating acceptance and empowering unity.. Kal is also an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College's School of Global Business.