It’s Juneteenth. Today, we honor the emancipation of the last enslaved Americans and recognize the painful history, extraordinary resilience, and generations of activism that made that moment possible. It’s a celebration that’s not only historic, but for many (like myself), deeply personal. 

But in a moment when civil and voting rights continue to face challenges, and even efforts to acknowledge our full history through initiatives like Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are viewed as controversial,  Juneteenth invites a larger question: what does this day mean? What does it symbolize for our democracy and for each of us,  regardless of race?