how to honor juneteenth at work
HOW YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN RECOGNISE JUNETEENTH
This article will feature 10 IDEAS TO CELEBRATE JUNETEENTH WITH YOUR TEAM RESPECTFULLY AND RESPONSIBLY!
Juneteenth, or Freedom Day is an incredibly important and symbolic holiday. It is a commemoration of the emancipation of enslaved African Americans in the US. Despite the Emancipation Proclamation being issued on January 1st, 1863, it took a long time for the news to reach certain parts of the country, especially under Federate control, so June 19th, 1865, marks the day when news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas. It signifies the end of slavery and the beginning of freedom for millions of Black and African American people.
All across the country, people will honor Juneteenth through various activities. Some will host community gatherings, parades, marches, cultural performances, education events, and even picnics and barbecues. As organizations, we have the platform and resources to commemorate Juneteenth in a way that is meaningful and respectful.
1. Juneteenth Lunch & Learn
We love Lunch and Learn as they deliver on two goals of team building: provide education and knowledge in a way that is fun and engaging, and provide a platform for your teams to connect.
Invite your team to commemorate Juneteenth by learning about the history and origins of Juneteenth as well as its impact on modern Black American culture. Listen to African American studies and history experts to learn the right information!
Check out ‘Juneteenth: What You Need To Know’ for a quick introduction to the topic, and Southern Icons: ‘Grandmother of Juneteenth, Opal Lee, Shares The Importance of this Historic Holiday’ to learn about the fight that led to Juneteenth being declared a federal holiday.
Elevate this experience by supporting a Black-owned restaurant serving delicious food. Check out this incredible resource for finding Black-owned restaurants across different platforms including EatOkra, Ubereats, and Yelp. Send your team a gift card so they can enjoy a meal with you and share a company lunch! This is also a great way for teams to bond over their favorite Black and African American dishes.
To learn more about Juneteenth’s history of food and its cultural significance check out ‘The Traditional Foods of Juneteenth Carry a Rich History, Dating Back Centuries’ to learn about traditions enslaved African people brought to the USA. Following up, invite your team to watch High On The Hog (Available on Netflix) which follows chefs across the US fighting to preserve African American traditional food in modern culture. This will make your Lunch and Learn a more holistic experience that encourages learning and fun.
2. Host A Juneteenth Film Session
Invite your team to watch a film or documentary that will help broaden your knowledge about Juneteenth or other symbolic Black history celebrations. Be mindful of your film selection to ensure you are conscious of the topic's sensitive nature. We recommend sending a poll ahead so your team can choose what they want to watch! For a Juneteenth special watch that celebrates emancipation and freedom, and/or the impact of Black influence on American culture, check out the following:
The hit TV show Black-ish’s season 4 celebrated Juneteenth with a special musical episode (Available on Disney+).
Black is King is a musical film and visual album released by Beyonce that celebrates traditional Black and African culture (Available on Disney+).
Summer of Soul is a powerful documentary about the Harlem Cultural Festival of 1969 that celebrated music, fashion, and history during a time of unrest (Available on Hulu).
Selma is a historical drama that follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr historic march in pursuit of equal voting rights (Available on Amazon Prime).
Hidden Figures is inspired by the African American mathematicians who worked at NASA during the Space Race and their historic impact (Available on Amazon Prime).
You can elevate this experience with a Black-owned snack box to ensure your teams have delicious snacks for your watch party. Check out this Black-Owned Brands Box featuring yummy snacks for your team!
3. Virtual Museum Exhibit or Tour
By inviting your team to a virtual tour, you will learn about Black history and support the arts at the same time! Check out some incredible virtual tours that explore Juneteenth, the struggle post-emancipation, and activism throughout history:
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
The Historical Legacy of Juneteenth details the history that has been celebrated by Black Americans long before it was declared a federal holiday.
Emancipation and Educating the Newly Freed explores the fight for educational opportunities while segregation laws were still in place.
The main takeaway
Juneteenth is an opportunity to celebrate Black freedom and liberation, and it is important that we remember what an integral part of American history it is. Choose this opportunity to celebrate Black Joy and invite your team to not only learn about the history but celebrate the progress that has been made.
ABOUT KRAFTYLAB
KraftyLab is a leading corporate team events company providing in-person and remote team building activities across the US & Canada. Our focus is on providing fun and engaging activities wherever your team may be!
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