What Juneteenth Means Today

Juneteenth marks the day June 19, 1865 when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to enforce freedom for enslaved people, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It was a moment of delayed liberation, but also one of profound hope and resilience. Today, Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a moment for reflection, education, and celebration. Juneteenth today is more than just a historical milestone; it is a living testament to the power of resilience and community. It calls on us to remember the unfinished work of justice, to recognize how our past shapes the present, and to stand together in the face of ongoing struggles for equality and belonging. In Los Angeles and beyond, it is a reminder that freedom is not a destination, but a promise we must continue to keep, for ourselves, and for each other.

The future of holidays like Juneteenth and Martin Luther King Jr. Day is increasingly uncertain. This year, the Defense Intelligence Agency issued a memo pausing all special observances, including MLK Day and Juneteenth, in line with a broader federal ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Although this pause technically applied only to internal agency events, it sends a chilling message: that the hard-won recognitions of Black history and achievement can be sidelined at any moment. MLK Day and Juneteenth remain official federal holidays for now, but the fact that such pauses are even possible should remind us that these commemorations are not guaranteed, they are the result of generations of struggle, and they must be actively defended if we are going to ensure that the full story of America continues to be told.

In Los Angeles, Juneteenth arrives at a moment when the city is grappling with deep questions about citizenship and constitutional rights. Protests and public conversations around immigration, belonging, and civil liberties have made headlines, but beneath the headlines is a timeless truth: that Juneteenth is about more than the end of slavery. It is about the ongoing fight to ensure every person’s rights are recognized and respected. In this case justice delayed is justice denied, a reminder that freedom is not real unless it is real for everyone. The tensions we see in LA today, around who belongs, who is protected, and who has a voice, echo the same struggles that have shaped Black history in America since 1865. Juneteenth reminds us that freedom is not a single moment in time; it is a promise that must be renewed, for everyone, every day.

As concerned citizens, we can choose to honor Juneteenth not just with parades or proclamations, but by showing up for one another in the daily work of inclusion and accountability. We can listen to those whose rights are at risk, challenge systems that perpetuate inequality, and lift up the voices and stories that too often go unheard. In doing so, we keep alive the spirit of Juneteenth, a celebration of freedom and a call to action for justice that belongs to all of us. My grandmother respected this holiday because she knew that freedom was not given, it was fought for, and it had to be protected every day. She also was born and raised in Texas which was the last state to receive the information about the emancipation proclamation.  From the time she was a little girl, she was taught to value what her ancestors lived and died for and so should all of us.

For me, Juneteenth is both a celebration and a challenge. It is a celebration of the resilience and faith of those who never gave up on freedom, even when that freedom was delayed. And it is a challenge to each of us to keep pushing for a world where everyone can thrive, not just survive. Juneteenth reminds me that true freedom is more than the absence of chains; it is the presence of dignity, opportunity, and belonging. That is the vision I carry forward in my work, my writing, and my life. Juneteenth is not just a day we remember, it is a promise we keep.

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Visit www.WendyGladney.com and www.forgivingforliving.org to learn more. Wendy is a purpose partner, strategist, coach, consultant, author, and speaker.