Tomorrow is Juneteenth, a celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863, it would take two more years for Union army soldiers to reach Texas, freeing enslaved people on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth references this date – combining the words “June” and “nineteenth.”
In recognition of this significant day in history, we encourage the CMWorld community to take time to reflect on the meaning and importance of this day.
Understand what Juneteenth celebrates.
- The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth (National Museum of African American History & Culture)
- National Archives Safeguards Original ‘Juneteenth’ General Order (National Archives News)
Check out Black-content creators.
- Glographics. Gloria Atanmo is a graphic designer who uses her Instagram account to spark honest conversations about race. She creates engaging visual content that addresses questions like, “Are you guilty of Black tokenism?” Her images hold valuable lessons on how we can practice genuine allyship in the fight for racial equity.
- Sydni Craig-Hart. Sydni is a good friend of CMI’s. She is co-founder and CEO of Smart Simple Marketing, advising brands on how they can connect better with their audiences of women- and minority-owned businesses.
- PBS shares its list of 10 Black Authors Everyone Should Read. You can also go one step further; Well-Read Back Girl introduces diverse writers to future generations. It offers up this list of Black bookstores.
Donate to organizations that support Black communities.
- Give Blck has a devoted an entire website to 500+ Black-founded nonprofits.
- The 15 Percent Pledge encourages retailers to commit to at least 15% of their shelves to selling Black-owned brands.
Juneteenth is an opportunity to honor the journey of Black people in the U.S. and recognize the many contributions they have made to American culture.
Here at CMI, we continue to make strides towards fostering more diverse and inclusive community. We’ve become more involved in conversations on race, structural inequality, and social justice. We pledged to work more in recruiting minority speakers and blog contributors. We launched the CMI Mentorship Program, focusing on groups in need of industry representation.
How are you and your organization observing Juneteenth? Let us know in the comments.
