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From Proclamation to Practice


Today, we recognize Juneteenth. It is the day in 1865 when word of emancipation finally reached the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.


It’s a moment that reminds us: freedom delayed is justice denied. But it also carries a deeper lesson for those of us in leadership roles today, one that extends beyond celebration and into accountability.


Juneteenth is not just about the past. It’s a mirror we must look into.


It reflects some hard truths. That systems don't dismantle themselves, and that silence, intentional or not, can cause harm. That people in positions of power can be aware of what's right, yet choose not to act. That the absence of urgency in leadership can prolong suffering for those without a voice at the table.


As leaders, we don’t get to choose when truth becomes convenient. When we know better, we must move better. Waiting - whether out of discomfort, indecision, or self-preservation - is a form of complicity.


So here’s the leadership challenge Juneteenth presents to us:


  • Are there people in your space still waiting to be seen, heard, valued?

  • Are you sitting on change that others desperately need?

  • Are you telling yourself it’s “not the right time,” while someone else’s dignity, safety, or potential is on the line?


Leadership is not about controlling timelines. Instead, it’s about collapsing the distance between what is known and what is done.


We honor Juneteenth not only by looking back, but by stepping forward and refusing to delay liberation in our schools, organizations, and communities. Because freedom is not just a historical event. It’s a daily decision.


Let’s be leaders who move with urgency. With clarity. With care.


And most importantly, with the courage to act before someone else is forced to wait.


Learn. Grow. Lead.


 
 
 

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