Today is Juneteenth. For those who may be unfamiliar with this significant U.S. holiday, Juneteenth celebrations honor the day that news of slave emancipation reaching the final state where people were still enslaved.
On June 19, 1865 — months after the northern US states defeated the slave-owning South in the US Civil War — enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed they were free. This occurred more than two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all enslaved people in the rebellious states be set free.
Today, Juneteenth is recognized as the official end of slavery in America and acts as a reminder of the powerful achievements in history and culture made by Black Americans. Officially recognized as a federal holiday in 2021, Juneteenth is honored across the United States by celebrating Black history, Black culture, and Black achievements. It also unites people of all cultures to continue fighting the racist systems that Black people in America still contend with every day.
To honor Juneteenth at Splunk this year, our Black Employees Achieve More at Splunk (BEAMS) employee resource group (ERG) hosted a celebration of Freedom Day. Splunkers came together to learn more about the holiday, enjoy “freedom songs” and learn about some of the women who’ve been key figures in the African American community.
Our US Splunkers are observing this holiday today, and we hope everyone is able to honor this day by celebrating Black history, culture, and achievements. Happy Juneteenth, everyone!
- The Splunk Community Team
