Celebrating Juneteenth Today

Today is Juneteenth -- an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day and Liberation Day. It's an official state holiday in Texas and either an official or ceremonial day in 46 of 50 US states and the District of Columbia. Curious about the name? It's a blending of June and nineteenth.

Most are aware that the 1863 signing of the Emancipation Proclamation formally ended slavery in many states. However, few may realize that it wasn't until over two years later on June 19, 1865 that the news reached Texas, the most remote state included in the proclamation. Although Juneteenth is connected to a dark era in American history, today it's used as a day for celebration, education, and building closer connections with one another. This day is especially significant this year because at this very moment voices around the world are collectively calling for equality and justice.  

During this time, I'm reminded of one of my favorite quotes from Martin Luther King Jr., "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." For more than 100 years, IBM has been committed to fostering diversity and inclusion. That commitment is ingrained in who we are as an organization, and it's one of the many reasons I'm proud to be an IBMer. However, the fight for equality is far from over, and we're taking continuous action to drive progress. To learn about our our values and beliefs and how we strive to ensure that every IBMer can bring their full selves to work, checkout our IBMer stories and to see how we're driving change outside of IBM, read our CEO's recent letter to Congress on Racial Justice Reform.

Today in recognition of Juneteenth, please take a moment for self-reflection to examine ways you can help advocate for equality and be the change we need.