At the first official Juneteenth ceremony, held at the Pentagon on June 21, hundreds of people came together to commemorate the occasion via song, dancing, poetry, and storytelling.
This ceremony honored the proclamation of freedom for enslaved persons in Texas on June 19, 1865, making it the last state to hear the news to end slavery in America. It was attended by officials of the U.S. Air and Space Force, members of the Defense Department, and service members.
Frank Kendall, the secretary of the Air Force, gave the opening remarks and described his early years growing up during the civil rights movement, recalling the prejudice and discrimination he personally experienced.
He asserted that the Juneteenth holiday and the civil rights movement were not the conclusion of a journey that started when slavery arrived in the United States, leaving behind its ominous legacy of hatred, inhumanity, and inequity.
“Juneteenth is a day when all Americans should pause and reflect on where we are today in that journey, and what they — white, black, or otherwise — can do to help us continue on the path to justice,” he explained. “The journey isn’t over, and the phase in which we find ourselves now may be the most difficult.”
Kendall’s remark was echoed by Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond, who urged the audience to pause and consider the promise of freedom made on June 19, 1865.
“‘A dream doesn’t become reality through magic. It takes sweat, determination, and hard work,’” Raymond remarked, quoting the late Gen. Colin Powell. “Today, we are determined to do the hard work to ensure everyone in the Department of the Air Force is treated with equal respect and afforded the same opportunities.”
Racial, ethnic, and other demographic disparity issues and their effects on the forces have been addressed by the DAF in recent years, and it has made progress in doing so. Implemented solutions include facilitating ROTC scholarships for minority-serving colleges, updating dress and appearance guidelines, enhancing shaving waiver policies, and putting in place Diversity, Inclusion, and Unconscious Bias Training.
“Take some time and consider how you can be an active participant in moving America forward,” Kendall urged. “Learn more about the experiences of fellow Americans whose lives may have been very different from your own. All leaders, but especially military leaders, benefit from having empathy for the people they lead.”
Special performances, coordinated by the Diversity and Inclusion Task Force, included Bowie State Gospel Choir, Hampton University Terpsichorean, Farafina Kan West African Percussion and Dance Ensemble, and individual acts performed to celebrate Black cultural and social contributions.
For more information on diversity and inclusion efforts across the DAF, visit www.af.mil/diversity.