Statement on Juneteenth federal holiday

The Family Values @ Work network welcomes the news that Congress passed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Juneteenth (June 19) marks the date in 1865 when enslaved people in Galveston,Texas finally learned — two and a half years late — that slavery had been abolished. The holiday is an important recognition of Black Americans’ centuries-long pursuit of liberation and a moment to reflect and recommit to the continued work of achieving racial equity. 

The observation of Juneteenth is both a solemn rite and a hope-filled celebration. The day forces us to acknowledge this nation’s historic and ongoing dependence on coerced or underpaid labor and the marginalization of Black women and enslaved people and their descendants. It also presents us with an opportunity to envision and create a society where everyone is included in our nation’s prosperity, and every working person’s contribution to that prosperity is properly valued and given due respect.

Juneteenth is also about restoring the voices of the Black community which slavery attempted to strip away, and acknowledging the sacrifices of Black people, especially Black women. At FV@W, we center our work on the identification and development of Black leaders, especially Black women, to support the pursuit of racial justice. We know that racial justice cannot truly be realized until the nation repeals voter suppression laws; enacts police reform; and implements family-friendly policies, like paid family and medical leave, and paid sick and safe days, that help Black and brown families and caregivers gain economic security and access opportunities in the workplace. 

As the nation celebrates the first official federal Juneteenth holiday, FV@W remains committed to ending the ongoing struggle for black liberation and will continue to fight until these important policies are won.