End of Slavery Celebrated on June 19

This coming Monday, Juneteenth will be celebrated in the United States and around the world as a day of freedom and emancipation commemorating the end of slavery.

By the time the Civil War was ending, Texas had become one of the last states to harbor large numbers of slaves. On June 19, 1865, a Union Army General proclaimed freedom from slavery in Texas, and a year later, Juneteenth began to be celebrated in Texas churches. Commemorations spread across the South and, eventually, the nation. 

Today, Juneteenth is formally observed as a holiday by many states. While much progress has been made in the area of racial equality, persistent inequities are faced by people of color, especially African Americans.

Learn more and find ideas for employees and leaders to celebrate this year:

• Use this Juneteenth Prayer as a reflection on June 19, or any day throughout the year.
• Learn more about the historical legacy of Juneteenth from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture.
• Commemorate the date with a day focused on shared reflection, preceded by an education moment or event led using the CommonSpirit Meaningful Conversations “My Lived Experience” Guide.
• Visit Juneteenth.com for ideas to bring to your workplace, community and home such as educating one another about the holiday using the resources we’ve provided here. You can also learn more about the contributions made by Black Americans, discuss other Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging topics and how to integrate them into your team’s routine.