Juneteenth: Understand the history and celebrate the impact
Driven employees share their thoughts on what the day means.
June 19 has long been an important date in U.S. history.
While it has long been celebrated in Black communities, it did not receive widespread recognition until 2021 when Juneteenth became a federal holiday.
The history of the day
June 19 is considered the U.S.’s second independence day.
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, yet not everyone experienced immediate freedom. In places still under Confederate control, most notably Texas, many Black people remained enslaved. Freedom finally came for them on June 19, 1865, when 2,000 Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, and announced that the more 250,000 enslaved Black people in the state were now free by executive decree.
The newly freed people of Texas nicknamed this day Juneteenth.
The history of the celebration
Until recent years, Juneteenth was largely unrecognized in the U.S. outside of Black communities.
Harvard Business Review found that just 41% of American workers knew about Juneteenth before 2020. A year later, that number had climbed to 71%. Among Black Americans, awareness also increased in that time, from 67% to 93%.
Things began to change in 2020 with the death of George Floyd, which ignited a push toward social justice and equity. Awareness is the first step, but it’s also important to understand why this day should be celebrated and honor it authentically.
Celebrating the lasting impact
At Driven, we want to honor the unique experiences of all our employees, and we embrace the opportunities to learn, understand, and evolve.
To do that, we asked employees what Juneteenth means to them and how we can best honor the meaning of the day:
Juneteenth represents freedom and education. Many don't know the significance so it's great to be a part of a company that recognizes that. I think that part of history should be talked about more.” – Sharrell Williams, District Manager, Take 5 Oil Change
“Juneteenth is very important because it shows the recognition of African American culture that I believe is very necessary, especially going forward. Being an African American in the United States, we face a lot of difficulties in society each and every day and sometimes those silent battles we face are the hardest. But it feels good to be recognized with a day that we can be proud of and although we have a long way to go, it's a step forward in the right direction. Juneteenth is also my birthday. I was born June 19,1995 so, having a birthday on the same day that is recognized for the actual freedom of my African American people makes that day even more special to me.” Chad Evans, Accounts Payable Specialist, Driven Brands
“A federal holiday memorializing the delayed freedom of the enslaved people of Galveston, Texas is significant, especially in the acknowledging and validating of their American experience. The Juneteenth journey encapsulates not only the slaves of 1865, but the experiences of all marginalized people, still today. Liberation for one is liberation for all! Happy Juneteenth everyone.” – Crystal Campbell, Manager, Property Management