Celebrating Juneteenth: Preserving Black American History

Jessica McRae

Hi Blackbaud Community!


Monday, June 19, is Juneteenth—the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the end of legal slavery in the United States. On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved people around the country learned that they had been emancipated—two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was announced on January 1, 1863. 


Juneteenth is a time to highlight the stories and resilience of Black Americans over the centuries and to reflect on the lived experiences of many in the Black community who bravely fought for liberation from slavery. We recognize that educating ourselves about the history, perspectives, and experiences of our employees and customers helps us continue to grow as an inclusive global workforce.


To celebrate, Blackbaud employees curated an exciting list of educational and inspirational activities leading up to the Juneteenth holiday. These activities include hearing from an author and genealogist on the history of one of the oldest intact freedmen homes in Edisto, South Carolina—the Historical Hutchinson House, constructed in 1885. A virtual cooking demonstration will feature a recipe from Gullah-Geechee chef and James Beard Award recipient, Mrs. Emily Hutchinson Meggett, and employees will have an opportunity to record and archive pieces of their family history in the Library of Congress, with StoryCorps.


We’re excited to listen, learn, and grow together!


Happy Juneteenth Blackbaud Community.