Juneteenth: Honoring the Past, Communicating for Change
Juneteenth: Honoring the Past, Communicating for Change
By Jordan Wethington, Graduate Intern
“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.” These words from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. captured the fundamental truth at the heart of Juneteenth, a holiday rooted in both painful delay and enduring faith.
Juneteenth is celebrated annually on June 19. This marks the day in 1865 when enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas, finally received news of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The delay was not simply a logistical failure, but a reminder of how slow justice can be, and how often freedom for Black Americans has come with caveats, conditions, or outright resistance. This moment of “finite disappointment” in our nation’s history remains deeply symbolic. For the Black Americans in Texas, the legal promise of freedom had existed on paper, but not in reality. While Juneteenth has grown into a joyful celebration of liberation, it also serves as a reminder of how progress has been historically delayed, denied, or distorted.
Juneteenth is both a celebration and a challenge. While it commemorates the end of slavery, it also reminds us that systemic racism in housing, education, healthcare and more still demands our attention and action. The day calls for us to honor history not just with remembrance, but with responsibility to change our futures into a better tomorrow.
As a communications and public relations firm, we understand the importance of amplifying stories that have long been silenced or historically marginalized. At LáLew Public Relations, we are committed to helping clients lead with purpose, equity and inclusion. Messaging that uplifts communities and drives social impact is more than a campaign, it is a commitment. Juneteenth reminds us why representation, accountability and intentional communication matter in our industry and in the world at large.
Across the country, Juneteenth is celebrated with parades, music, storytelling and community gatherings. All of these powerful acts of culture, strength, and resistance show why this holiday is so important to Black Americans. Beyond the holiday, this means recommitting to justice, supporting equality-driven policies, uplifting voices, and reflecting on how we each can contribute to lasting change.
This Juneteenth, let’s honor those who waited too long for freedom and those who never stopped fighting for it. Let’s remember that disappointment may be part of the journey, but hope and action define the destination of where we want to be.