How Your Organization Can Recognize Juneteenth

This year, many U.S. organizations are formally acknowledging Juneteenth, or June 19, the anniversary of the day in 1865 when the last group of enslaved Black Americans were freed by Union troops. When celebrating, the authors recommend taking four steps to make it a diversity, equity, and inclusion-enhancing experience for your organization. Make it personal by engaging in frank team discussions about what you do and do not know about the Black experience. Expand the message by linking the holiday to broader DEI goals. Enhance the meaning by encouraging employees to engage with Black history. Finally, honor intersectionality by taking into account the multiple identities that most people encompass and emphasizing that extending empathy to certain marginalized groups helps create more inclusion for everyone.