Ad-Spot-#1---AAW---March
Ready Set Scale 770
share TWEET PIN IT share share 0
Happy Juneteenth!

Celebrating Juneteenth in the Legal Community

By Zenell Brown

Zenell Brown guides us through the new Juneteenth federal holiday and its history.

On June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law. That act established Juneteenth as a federal holiday. Many states, counties, local municipalities, and private businesses will close up shop in observation of Juneteenth.

juneteenth

What Is Juneteenth and How Is It Celebrated?

Before we get ready for this day away from the office, let’s remember President Biden’s words: “All Americans can feel the power of this day and learn from our history.” To that end, to borrow from Historian Mitch Kachun, we must educate, celebrate, and recommit.

Educate

We must educate ourselves about the Civil War and the birth of Juneteenth. Freeing enslaved people was not the focus of the Civil War initially and there are many inconsistencies in how the issue of slavery was approached by the United States and the Union government  Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 that Union General Gordon Granger marched into Texas to publicly announce to the enslaved people that they were free. Absolute equality was guaranteed and enforced right then and there for 250,000 Black men, women and children.

National and local libraries and museums will host educational events to celebrate Juneteenth. For example, the National Museum of African American History and Culture offers a video tour of its Slavery to Freedom exhibit. We must take this time to educate ourselves and recognize the contributions of Black, African-American people in the building of the nation and in the continued progress of the nation.

Celebrate

Equipped with a better understanding of Juneteenth’s history and significance, you are ready to celebrate the holiday with a focus of reverence — not meaningless performativity or commercialization.

With every good celebration, there is usually a gathering of people, good food and music, and the goals are fun and enjoyment. The same is true for Juneteenth. This jubilee celebration of emancipation and independence is worthy of fireworks, flags and parades, as well as the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation. Neighbors can stake “Happy Juneteenth” signs in their lawns in support of the holiday and the African American community.

Wherever you go on June 19, 2022, extend a smile and bring greetings to let those you encounter know you are observing the Day of Jubilee. Pinterest and Google have a number of celebration ideas for schools, workplaces and communities. Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture website’s extensive collection of videos and articles (or attend living museum performances in person). There’s even a website, Juneteenth.com, with history, swag, and an opportunity to support a commemorative stamp.

Recommit

Let’s be honest, there is still work to be done. Although Juneteenth was a celebration of the end of slavery in the Confederate state, slavery did not end in the United States until the ratification of the 13th Amendment on January 31, 1865. Still, there have been permutations of slavery and consequences that have plagued and continue to plague African American communities: Jim Crow laws, segregation, pipelines to prison and discrimination, as well as the inequities in housing, education and health care. We must now focus attention on modern-day oppressors.

The amazing thing about the United States is her continued journey to equality, securing and acknowledging freedom and liberty for all people, and eradicating mistakes and challenges in that pathway. Juneteenth serves as a marker for all of us in the legal community to recommit to our path forward.

One last thing: before you reach to turn off the lights and close the door, “Happy Juneteenth!”

Illustrations © Zanelle Brown.

Don’t miss out on our daily practice management tips. Subscribe to Attorney at Work’s free newsletter here >

Categories: Diversity and Inclusion, Law Firm Culture, News and Trends
Originally published June 15, 2023
Last updated January 7, 2024
share TWEET PIN IT share share
Zenell Brown

Zenell B. Brown is an attorney, author and sought-after speaker and trainer on leadership and inclusion. Zenell has worn many hats during her legal career. She began as a paralegal and currently serves as a court administrator in Detroit. During the pandemic, she wrote and published “Coffee and Conversations: Inclusion and Belonging,”  a 28-minute read encouraging the legal community  to stir up good conversations and start creating inclusion where they are right now with what they have. On weekends, Zenell can be found in her studio painting and creating mixed media art for journals, cards and clothes. Follow her on LinkedIn.

More Posts By This Author
MUST READ Articles for Law Firms Click to expand
envelope

Welcome to Attorney at Work!

Sign up for our free newsletter.

x

All fields are required. By signing up, you are opting in to Attorney at Work's free practice tips newsletter and occasional emails with news and offers. By using this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understand our Privacy Policy.