Juneteenth falls on a Saturday, June 19th this year. Here at Codecademy, we’re taking Friday, June 18th, off as a team to pause, reflect, and learn.
We believe that everyone belongs in tech — and that the future is brighter when the power of code is equally attainable by all. As we work towards this goal, it’s important for us to reflect on and celebrate the milestones throughout history that have paved the way for a more welcoming, inclusive, and diverse tech industry.
Interested in taking the day to reflect and learn with us? Check out this list of Juneteenth resources gathered by members of the Codecademy team.
In addition to a section for learning about what Juneteenth is, you’ll notice our guide is split into several categories for celebrating, reflecting, and acting. These categories contain resources to help us learn, celebrate, and support the Black community.
Learn
The first step in celebrating Juneteenth is understanding what the holiday is all about. We’ve put together some resources to help you gain a better understanding of this important part of American history.
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation went into effect on January 1, 1863. But it wasn’t until two and a half years later — on June 19, 1865 — that the last group of enslaved people in Galveston, Texas learned they were finally free. Juneteenth commemorates the emancipation of those that were enslaved in Confederate States and has been celebrated each year on June 19 since 1866.
This video from Vox explores Juneteenth and why all Americans should honor the holiday.
Read through the following articles to learn more about the history and meaning of Juneteenth:
Celebrate
Celebrating Juneteenth is about honoring Black history and culture by understanding its impact on the world we live in on a local and global level. We’ve rounded up some ideas for ways to commemorate the day, along with resources for finding celebrations near you.
You’ll notice that several of these ideas are in NYC, home of Codecademy HQ. But we’ve also included links for finding celebrations no matter where you are.
Reflect
Reflecting on Juneteenth is about recognizing and understanding the prevalence of racism on an interpersonal, intrapersonal, institutional, and structural level. Dive into these resources to learn more about anti-racism and allyship.
Act
Taking action is the most important next step to creating large-scale change. Support the Black (coding?) community by donating to or volunteering with organizations like:
Along with the organizations above, you can also support Black businesses like webuyblack.com and Black media organizations like Essence, Blavity, Black Enterprise, POCIT, and many others.
How are you celebrating Juneteenth? Let us know and feel free to share your own resources in the comments below.
