Juneteenth and the promise of freedom

The Juneteenth holiday commemorates the approximate date that the promise of freedom finally reached the last enslaved people in the South in 1865 — some two-and-a-half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. What started in Black churches in Galveston, Texas as a day to mark the end of chattel slavery in this country is now a federal holiday for every American to reflect on the full breadth of our shared history.

Beginning as early as June 19, 1866, African Americans and allies to the Black community began honoring Juneteenth with community gatherings, formal ceremonies, and family-centered events as the cornerstones for remembrance of those enslaved. In marking the end of one of America’s darkest chapters, they exposed a light brightly on freedom that was not fully realized by the 13th amendment.

When President Biden signed the commemoration of Juneteenth into law as a federal holiday last year, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was proud to assist federal agencies in planning for this holiday. Commemorating this day may happen in a myriad of ways that educates, inspires, and empowers achieving increased understanding and respect for how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go to realize the original promise of the Declaration of Independence. This commemoration could take many forms, including visiting the National African American Museum of History and Culture, seeking out works by Black writers, singers, and speakers, and remembering and reflecting on what many lived through, sacrificed, or endured to get us here. It also means reflecting on a painful part of American history and acknowledging that we each have a role to play in building a future we all want to see.

What Juneteenth represents may be one of our nation’s most complex and difficult truths to face, but its message is as relevant today, as ever. At OPM, we will continue to embed DEIA values in every aspect of our work to serve all American people and the federal workforce. As we look ahead, we embrace a culture of equity in the federal government, honor those who made this possible, and recognize whose shoulders we stand strong on today.

I hope you have a happy, proud, and reflective Juneteenth! You can find President Biden’s Proclamation on Juneteenth Day of Observance, 2022 by clicking here.

-Kiran Ahuja, Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management