Juneteenth is the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. It honors June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers landed at Galveston, TX with news that the war had ended and that all slaves were free. June 19, therefore, became the day of emancipation for thousands of Black U.S. citizens. Since then, our country has celebrated that day as Juneteenth.
Today, 47 states and Washington D.C. recognize Juneteenth as a national or ceremonial holiday. Juneteenth’s growing popularity signifies the need and desire to truthfully acknowledge a period of our country’s history that has shaped our society today. People celebrate with educational activities for children, parades, musical concerts and the reading of the Emancipation Proclamation.
As we celebrate Juneteenth at Republic Services, we reflect on our nation’s past and celebrate a hopeful future. With the Black Lives Matter movement highlighting racial injustice and systemic racism in our country, it’s important to continue to deepen our understanding of the history of Black Americans.
We invite you to visit the Inclusion & Diversity SharePoint site for more information